THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


The  Court  Series  of  French  Memoirs 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF 
THE  REGENCY 


PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,  THE  REGENT 


SECRET    MEMOIRS    OF 
THE    REGENCY 

The  Minority  of  Louis  XV 


BY 

Charles   Pinot    Duclos 

Historiographer  of  France 


Translated  from  the  French  by 

E.  Jules  Meras 


flew  H?orfe 

STURGIS  &  WALTON 
COMPANY 

1910 


Copyright  1910 
BY  STURGIS  &  WALTON  COMPANY 

Set  up  and  electrotyped.    Published  November,  1910 


College 
Library 

Dt 

1-32 


INTRODUCTION 

The  name  of  Regency  is  particularly  applied 
in  the  history  of  France  to  the  government  of 
Philippe  d'Orleans,  nephew  of  Louis  XIV,  dur- 
ing the  minority  of  Louis  XV  (1715-1723). 
It  was,  from  a  political  point  of  view,  a  reaction 
against  the  absolutism  of  Louis  XIV,  and  the 
period  was  signalised  by  a  recrudescence  in  public 
immorality  and  by  the  disastrous  financial  ventures 
of  John  Law. 

Most  authors  of  the  period  seem  to  be  agreed 
that  Philippe  d'Orleans  was,  of  all  the  descend- 
ants of  Henri  IV,  the  one  who  resembled  him 
most;  "  he  possessed  his  valour,  his  kindness,  his 
indulgence,  his  gaiety,  his  quickness,  his  frank- 
ness." It  is  true  that  awful  charges  were  brought 
against  him,  but  many  are  no  longer  believed  and 
among  these  the  one  regarding  his  relations  with 
his  daughter,  the  Duchesse  de  Berri.  He  was, 
perhaps,  not  so  bad  as  painted  and  may  have  been 


1182969 


vi  INTRODUCTION 

what  his  uncle,  Louis  XIV,  termed  him :  "  a 
braggart  of  crimes."  Nevertheless,  the  fact  re- 
mains that  owing  to  his  immorality,  his  impiety 
and  his  indifference  to  public  opinion,  he  set  an 
example  which  caused  a  general  corruption  of 
morals  and  made  the  Regency  one  of  the  shame- 
ful periods  of  the  history  of  France. 

The  destiny  of  Duclos,  the  author  of  the 
"  Secret  Memoirs  of  the  Regency,"  may  appear 
strange.  He  was  in  his  time,  as  much  as  his 
contemporaries  Diderot  or  Voltaire,  one  of  the 
great  personages  of  the  republic  of  letters;  he 
was,  more  than  any  other  writer,  loaded  with 
titles  and  honours,  a  member  of  the  Academic  des 
Inscriptions,  secretaire  perpetuel  of  the  Academic 
Franchise,  historiographer  of  France:  hardly  has 
his  name  survived  in  the  memory  of  men.  A 
charming  narrator,  a  kind  moralist,  a  well-in- 
formed historian,  he  wrote  excellently  that  lan- 
guage so  pure  and  classic  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, but  this  did  not  prevent  his  work  from  slowly 
sinking  into  oblivion. 

Born  at  Dinan  of  a  family  that  had  become 
rich  in  maritime  commerce  several  generations 


INTRODUCTION  vii 

back,  Duclos  went  to  college  in  Paris.  On  leav- 
ing college,  he  began  the  study  of  law,  which  he 
never  completed.  Later,  he  frequented  the 
cafes  litteraires.  It  was  already  the  fashion  in 
which  young  men  enamoured  of  literature  made 
their  debut  in  letters. 

Of  an  elegant  figure,  supplied  with  money,  witty 
and  more  conceited  than  modest,  Duclos  filled 
the  Procope  and  Gradot  cafes  with  the  sound  of 
his  powerful  voice,  not  the  least  intimidated  by  the 
wits  of  the  time  nor  by  the  grand  lords  who  were 
pleased  to  spend  their  fortunes  in  the  company  of 
men  of  letters.  Duclos  soon  became  a  person- 
age. 

From  a  bel  esprit  of  the  cafes  he  became 
through  the  protection  of  some  powerful  people 
a  bel  esprit  of  the  salons;  he  acquired  a  sort  of 
vogue  and  his  bon  mots,  often  sharp,  were  re- 
peated everywhere. 

From  certain  circles  he  progressed  into  others, 
being  received  and  entertained  by  some  of  the 
best  known  people  of  the  period.  He  frequented 
the  salon  of  Mme.  de  Tencin.  He  knew  Mari- 
vaux,  Montesquieu,  Mme.  du  Deffand  and  Presi- 


viii  INTRODUCTION 

dent  Renault.  He  was  a  friend  of  Bernis  and 
through  him  of  Quesnay,  physician  to  Mme.  de 
Pompadour. 

He  became  in  turn  mayor  of  Dinan,  deputy  to 
the  Etats  of  Brittany,  member  of  the  Academic 
Franchise  when  about  forty  years  of  age,  histo- 
riographer of  France,  then  finally,  in  1775,  secre- 
taire perpetuel  of  the  Academic. 

In  his  capacity  of  historiographer,  he  had  access 
to  all  the  departments  of  the  administration  and 
specially  had  at  his  disposal  the  papers  of  the 
library  of  the  minister  of  Foreign  Affairs.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  discovered  therein  some  curious 
works.  First  a  history  of  Louis  XI,  begun  by  an 
abbe  and  never  published;  from  this  he  evolved 
his  own  work  of  the  same  name;  then  on  the 
death  of  Saint-Simon  many  manuscripts  containing 
secrets  of  State  were  seized  and  from  these  Duclos 
drew  most  interesting  Memoirs;  those  of  the 
Regency  written  in  a  lively  and  at  times  remarkable 
style  sustain  the  interest  throughout. 

Apart  from  the  secret  papers  from  which  he 
drew,  his  own  experiences  were  of  service  to  him, 
for  having  been  born  in  1704,  and  having  died  at 


INTRODUCTION  ir 

the  age  of  sixty-eight,  he  had  seen  the  times  and  the 
changes  of  which  he  speaks. 

"  I  have  personally  known,"  he  says  in  his  own 
Introduction  to  the  Memoirs,  "  the  greater  number 
of  those  of  whom  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak; 
I  have  lived  with  several  of  them,  and,  having 
played  no  part,  am  able  to  judge  the  actors." 

Beside  the  Memoirs,  Duclos  has  written  novels, 
operas,  a  Histoire  de  Louis  XI,  Recherches  sur 
la  langue,  Considerations  sur  les  Mceurs:  of  all 
these  works,  which,  taken  separately,  are  not  with- 
out merit,  the  one  to  live  will  surely  be  the 
Memoirs. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Philippe  d'Orleans,  The  Regent Frontispiece 

FACING    PAGE 

The  Palais  Royal 18 

John  Law 66 

Peter  the  Great 96 

Louis  XV  as  a  Child 164 

Cardinal   Alberoni 192 

The  Duchesse  du  Maine 270 

Cardinal  Dubois .  330 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  r  uc  d'Orleans  had  a  pleasant  and  open 
countenance.  He  was  of  medium  height,  but  pos- 
sessed an  ease  and  grace  of  bearing  which  was  no- 
ticeable in  all  his  movements. 

Gifted  with  rare  penetration  and  sagacity,  he 
expressed  himself  with  animation  and  precision. 
His  repartee  was  quick,  to  the  point  and  brilliant. 
His  first  judgments  were  the  most  sure;  reflection 
made  him  waver.  Rapid  reading,  assisted  by  a 
good  memory,  took  the  place  of  continued  applica- 
tion; he  seemed  rather  to  guess  than  to  study 
things.  He  was  more  than  fairly  versed  in  art, 
music,  chemistry  and  mechanics. 

Possessed  of  true  valour,  modest  in  speaking  of 
himself,  and  but  little  indulgent  for  those  whom 
he  suspected  as  to  courage,  he  would  have  been 
a  general,  if  the  King  had  allowed  him  to  be ;  but 
he  was  always  in  subjection  at  Court,  and  a  subor- 

3 


'4  SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

dinate  in  the  army.  A  noble  familiarity  placed 
him  on  the  same  level  as  those  who  approached 
him;  he  felt  that  personal  superiority  made  it  un- 
necessary for  him  to  glory  in  his  rank. 

He  bore  no  resentment  toward  those  who  had 
wronged  him  and  made  use  of  this  fact  to  compare 
himself  with  Henri  IV.  His  lack  of  feeling  in 
that  respect  came  from  his  contempt  for  men;  he 
supposed  that  his  most  devoted  servants  would 
have  been  his  enemies  had  it  been  to  their  slightest 
advantage.  He  maintained  that  an  honest  man 
was  one  who  knew  the  art  of  hiding  what  he  was 
not;  a  judgment  as  unjust  to  humanity  as  it  is  dis- 
honouring to  the  one  who  pronounces  it.  He  had 
acquired  this  way  of  thinking  from  the  most  cor- 
rupt of  men,  the  abbe,  afterward  cardinal,  Dubois, 
who  did  not  believe  in  virtue,  nor  in  uprightness. 

The  Due  d'Orleans  had  had  four  tutors  suc- 
cessively; they  died  at  so  short  a  time  one  from 
the  other  that  Benserade  said  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  raise  tutors  for  this  prince.  Saint-Laurent, 
officer  of  Monsieur,  and  a  man  of  the  highest 
merit,  was  his  preceptor;  but  he  died  too  soon  for 
his  pupil.  He  had  engaged,  to  copy  the  young 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      5 

prince's  exercises,  Abbe  Dubois,  half  scribe,  half 
valet  to  the  curate  of  Saint-Eustache.  When 
Saint-Laurent  died,  the  prince  was  sufficiently 
grown  to  allow  of  the  assistant  tutors  —  whom 
Dubois  had  striven  to  please  —  dissuading  Mon- 
sieur from  engaging  a  head-master,  and  Dubois 
continued  the  duties  of  the  office.  The  remem- 
brance of  the  tutors  and  of  the  preceptor  was  al- 
ways dear  to  the  Due  d'Orleans,  but  Dubois  made 
him  forget  much  of  their  lessons. 

It  is  rather  interesting  to  know  the  origin  of  this 
singular  man.  Son  of  an  apothecary  of  Brive, 
after  having  studied  for  a  short  time,  he  became 
preceptor  to  the  son  of  President  Gourgues.  It 
is  claimed  that  afterwards  he  married  secretly. 
Poverty,  inspiring  him  with  the  desire  to  seek  his 
fortune,  with  the  consent  of  his  wife,  whom  he  left 
in  Limousin,  he  went  to  Paris.  Concealed  by  his 
obscurity,  he  entered  Saint-Michel's  College,  there 
to  perform  the  lowest  tasks.  Born  with  intel- 
ligence, he  soon  acquired  enough  literature  to  cause 
a  doctor  of  the  Sorbonne  to  become  interested  in 
him  and  take  him  to  his  home.  This  first  master 
having  died,  the  curate  of  Saint-Eustache  took  him 


6  SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

in  his  service.  It  was  there  that  he  became  known 
to  Saint-Laurent.  Yielding,  insinuating,  obliging, 
he  won,  if  not  the  friendship,  at  least  the  compas- 
sion of  Saint-Laurent,  who  employed  him  under 
him,  as  we  have  seen.  They  dressed  him  properly, 
so  as  to  give  him  the  appearance  of  an  abbe,  im- 
prove his  poor  and  vulgar  exterior  a  little,  and 
render  him  presentable.  Little  by  little  he  insin- 
uated himself  into  the  mind  of  the  young  prince, 
and  ended  by  taking  possession  of  it  after  the 
death  of  Saint-Laurent. 

As  intimacy  discloses  the  character,  the  abbe 
felt  that  he  would  soon  be  despised  by  his  pupil,  if 
he  did  not  corrupt  him ;  he  left  nothing  undone  to 
accomplish  this  end  and  unfortunately  was  but  too 
successful.  It  was  not  long  before  people  noticed 
the  influence  of  the  abbe  over  the  prince;  but  the 
slight  importance  of  his  person  saving  him  at  that 
time  from  jealousy,  people  were  not  sorry  to  have 
some  one  of  whom  they  could  make  use  on  occa- 
sion, as  of  a  tool  of  no  consequence. 

The  resolution  which  the  King  made  to  have 
the  Due  de  Chartres  (later  Due  d'Orleans)  marry 
Mademoiselle  de  Blois,  his  natural  daughter,  set 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      7 

Abbe  Dubois  to  work.  However  submissive 
Monsieur  might  be,  the  King  felt  that  the  propo- 
sition would  be  repugnant  to  him  and  that  the  Ger- 
man haughtiness  of  Madame  would  be  indignant  at 
it.  He  therefore  bethought  himself  of  securing 
the  consent  of  the  Due  de  Chartres;  and  knowing 
that  no  one  could  succeed  better  than  Abbe  Du- 
bois, to  him  he  entrusted  this  task. 

This  became  a  serious  undertaking.  It  was 
more  difficult  to  destroy  prejudice  of  pride  than 
of  morality,  and  this  prejudice  was  nevertheless 
well  founded  on  reason.  Dubois  succeeded  in 
triumphing  over  it,  however,  by  frightening  the 
Due  de  Chartres  with  the  King's  power,  and  by 
holding  out  to  him  the  allurement  of  an  increase  of 
credit  and  of  personal  dignity  by  the  continuation 
of  the  honours  of  the  fits  de  France,  superior  to 
those  of  petit-fils. 

The  marriage  was  concluded,  in  spite  of  the  un- 
certainties of  the  Due  de  Chartres,  the  repugnance 
of  Monsieur,  and  the  fury  of  Madame,  who  gave 
her  son  a  slap  the  first  time  he  spoke  of  the  matter. 

The  Due  de  Chartres  found,  however,  in  the 
woman  he  married,  face,  wit,  virtue  and  nobility 


8      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

of  character ;  but  she  was  labouring  under  a  singular 
delusion  with  regard  to  her  birth.  She  imagined 
that  she  had  done  her  husband  as  much  honour  as 
she  had  received  from  him.  Proud  of  her  birth, 
which  she  owed  to  the  King,  she  took  no  notice 
whatever  of  the  Marquise  de  Montespan,  her 
mother.  She  was  rather  wittily  compared  to 
Minerva,  who,  recognizing  no  mother,  gloried  in 
being  the  daughter  of  Jupiter.  This  folly  did  not 
prevent  her,  with  her  brother  and  sisters,  from 
boasting  of  the  honours  which  she  owed  only  to  her 
marriage. 

Less  sensitive  on  the  subject  of  love  than  on  that 
of  the  respect  which  she  demanded  of  her  husband, 
she  always  felt  more  displeasure  than  jealousy  to- 
wards the  mistresses  which  he  took,  and  would 
not  have  made  the  slightest  advances  to  bring  him 
back  to  her. 

So  much  haughtiness  strengthened  the  Due 
d'Orleans'  taste  for  a  life  which  at  times  became 
grossly  vicious.  Human,  sympathetic,  he  would 
have  had  virtues,  if  one  could  have  them  without 
principles.  Abbe  Dubois  had  made  him  lose 
them.  The  subjection  in  which  the  King  held  him 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      9 

caused  him  to  highly  praise  English  liberty.  It  is 
true  that  that  which  he  wished  for  himself,  he  left 
to  others.  He  at  times  had  rivals  who  did  not 
conceal  the  fact.  With  regard  to  his  associates, 
he  was  not  particular.  Anyone  whom  he  fancied 
became  his  equal.  In  spite  of  his  talent  and  intel- 
ligence, he  could  not  for  long  find  resources  in  him- 
self;  dissipation,  noise,  debauch,  were  necessary  to 
him.  He  admitted  into  his  intimacy  individuals 
whom  no  self-respecting  man  would  ever  have 
acknowledged  as  friends,  notwithstanding  the 
noble  birth  of  some  of  these.  The  Regent,  al- 
though enjoying  their  company,  did  not  esteem 
them  any  the  more  for  that  reason  and  called  them 
his  roues  in  speaking  of  them  or  before  them. 
The  licentiousness  of  his  private  life  was  such  that 
the  comtesse  said  to  him  one  day  during  supper: 
"  God,  after  having  created  man,  took  a  bit  of  mud 
which  was  left  over  and  from  it  formed  the  minds 
of  princes  and  lackeys."  Instead  of  getting  angry 
at  this  remark,  the  Regent  laughed  heartily,  for  it 
seemed  rather  witty  to  him. 

The  curate  of  Saint-Come,  Godeau,  delivered  a 
sermon  which  clearly  applied  to  the  Regent.     The 


io      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

prince,  to  whom  the  matter  was  mentioned,  said 
coolly:  "  What  does  he  meddle  with?  I  do  not 
belong  to  his  parish." 

As  to  religion,  it  would  be  hard  to  say  what 
that  of  the  Regent  was.  Without  considering 
that  respect  for  religion  should  be  the  duty  of 
princes  more  than  that  of  anyone  else,  the  Regent 
publicly  affected  a  scandalous  impiety.  His  ex- 
cesses and  his  meannesses  betrayed  a  man  anything 
but  firm  in  his  convictions.  In  seeking  to  doubt 
the  divinity,  he  went  from  one  fortune-teller  to  an- 
other, and  exhibited  all  the  credulous  curiosity  of 
an  effeminate  man.  It  is  very  probable,  that  had 
he  fallen  into  a  lingering  illness,  he  would  have 
had  recourse  to  relics  and  holy  water.  Madame, 
who  knew  him  well,  said  of  him :  "  The  fairies 
were  invited  at  my  lying-in,  and  each  one  en- 
dowed my  son  with  some  talent.  He  had  them  all. 
Unfortunately,  one  fairy  had  been  forgotten  who, 
coming  after  the  others,  said :  '  He  will  possess 
all  the  talents,  except  that  of  making  use  of 
them.'  " 

Madame  loved  her  son  tenderly,  although  she 
condemned  his  conduct  severely.  This  princess, 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      n 

with  just  sense,  was  attached  to  virtue,  honour,  the 
proprieties,  and  the  etiquette  of  her  rank.  A 
sturdy  health,  which  kept  her  from  knowing  any 
weakness,  made  her  appear  unfeeling  for  others, 
whom  she  considered  as  healthy  as  she  was  herself. 
Frank  even  to  coarseness,  generous,  capable  of 
friendship,  she  did  not  try  to  please ;  she  wished  to 
be  loved  only  by  those  whom  she  esteemed.  She 
loved  her  own  nation  greatly  and  it  sufficed  but  to 
be  German  to  be  well  received.  All  her  relatives 
were  dear  to  her,  and  her  affections  were  regulated 
by  the  closeness  of  blood-ties,  even  towards  those 
whom  she  had  never  seen.  She  esteemed  her 
daughter-in-law  and  would  have  loved  her  had  she 
been  legitimate.  Her  strictness  on  the  question  of 
duty  excited  in  her  the  greatest  indignation  against 
the  Duchess  de  Berri,  her  granddaughter.  All 
that  could  be  praised  in  the  latter  was  her  face  and 
grace,  for  much  wit,  which  she  always  misused,  is 
not  a  thing  to  be  lauded!  Lacking  her  father's 
good  qualities,  she  possessed  all  his  vices  and  to  a 
more  pronounced  degree.  He  had  been  her  pre- 
ceptor in  these  matters;  she  became  his  imitator 
and  surpassed  him. 


12      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

We  have  seen  the  strange  vanity  which  the  Duch- 
ess d'Orleans  drew  from  her  birth;  her  daughter 
blushed  at  owing  hers  to  her.  Such  opposite  ideas 
and  such  sameness  of  pride  were  not  apt  to  pre- 
serve harmony  between  mother  and  daughter ;  their 
dissensions  were  therefore  continuous  and  often 
reached  the  breaking  point.  The  Duchess  d'Or- 
leans grieved  at  this,  because  she  was  a  mother, 
this  sentiment  prevented  her  from  hating  her 
daughter;  but  the  latter,  who  had  renounced  all 
good  sentiments,  did  not  conceal  either  her  con- 
tempt or  dislike.  The  Due  d'Orleans  contented 
himself  with  disapproving  of  her  conduct  but  dared 
not  reprimand  her. 

The  father  and  daughter  lived  in  such  intimacy 
that  rumours,  which  at  first  had  been  but  low  mur- 
murs, became  a  public  topic  of  conversation,  and 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Due  de  Berri.  His  religion 
did  not  permit  him  to  believe  them ;  but  as  he  loved 
his  wife  to  distraction,  he  was  annoyed  at  the  per- 
sistent attentions  of  his  father-in-law;  and  this 
troublesome  third  party  put  him  into  a  humour 
which  he  did  not  always  restrain.  He  was  be- 
sides frightened  at  the  impious  speeches  of  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      13 

father  and  daughter.  It  was  a  contest  between 
them  as  to  who  could  say  the  most  irreligious 
things  and  show  the  greatest  contempt  for  morals. 
Their  impiety  was  as  much  a  mania  as  it  was  a  vice. 
The  princess  impudently  mocked  her  husband  about 
a  devoutness  which  was  the  sole  preventive  against 
the  suspicions  which  she  should  have  tried  to 
destroy.  The  only  thing  the  father  and  daughter 
had  to  justify  themselves  was  an  excess  of  foolish 
imprudence,  but  the  folly  of  their  conduct,  and 
their  indifference  to  public  gossip,  were  not  a  proof 
of  their  innocence;  and  the  Court,  which  had 
neither  the  virtue  nor  the  religion  of  the  Due  de 
Berri,  was  not  so  reserved  in  its  judgment.  The 
Due  d'Orleans  was  told  of  it  and  was  very  indig- 
nant; his  daughter  was  only  shocked  in  her  vanity; 
and  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  changed  their 
ways. 

If  the  Due  d'Orleans  was  enamoured  of  his 
daughter,  he  was  not  jealous  of  her,  and  seemed 
to  look  upon  the  dissoluteness  of  her  life  with  in- 
difference. Hardly  had  she  married  the  Due  de 
Berri  when  she  had  love  affairs,  wherein  the  respect 
which  was  due  her  station  compelled  her  to  make 


I4      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  advances.  The  liaison  which  she  had  with  La 
Haye,  her  husband's  equerry,  was  carried  to  an  in- 
credible degree  of  frenzy.  Not  satisfied  with, 
showing  her  passion,  she  proposed  to  her  lover  to 
take  her  to  Holland.  La  Haye  trembled  at  the 
proposition  and  saw  himself  obliged,  to  save  him- 
self, to  impart  it  to  the  Due  d'Orleans.  It  was 
necessary  in  turn  to  frighten  and  to  flatter  that 
wayward  spirit,  so  that  the  project  should  not 
reach  the  King's  ears.  Little  by  little  the  duchess 
calmed  down,  and  that  mad  woman  finally  gave 
way  to  the  impossibility  of  satisfying  her  wish  or  to 
the  fear  of  the  danger  to  her  lover. 

When  her  husband  was  attacked  at  Marly  by 
the  sickness  of  which  he  died,  instead  of  going 
from  Versailles  to  see  him,  she  contented  herself 
with  asking  the  permission  of  the  King,  who  re- 
plied that,  being  with  child,  it  would  perhaps  be 
imprudent,  but  that  she  might  do  as  she  pleased. 

She  did  not  go  and  her  husband  died  without 
having  seen  her  or  having  uttered  her  name. 

The  Duchess  de  Berri,  in  spite  of  her  vanity, 
trembled  before  the  King  and  grovelled  in  the 
presence  of  Mme.  de  Maintenon.  We  shall  soon 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      15 

see  the  remainder  of  her  life,  which  was  short,  cor- 
respond to  the  beginning. 

Let  us  resume  the  narration  of  the  events  in 
their  order.  The  day  after  the  King's  death,  the 
Parliament  assembled  to  decide  on  the  regency. 
The  Due  d'Orleans,  the  princes  and  the  peers  be- 
took themselves  there  and  as  early  as  eight  o'clock 
all  were  in  their  places. 

It  is  well  known  that  in  his  will  Louis  XIV  ap- 
pointed, instead  of  a  Regent,  a  regency  council  of 
which  the  Due  d'Orleans  was  to  be  but  the  head, 
and  that  the  Due  du  Maine  was  to  have  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  of  the  King's  Household. 

As  the  report  of  this  session  of  September  sec- 
ond, and  that  of  the  bed  of  justice  of  the  twelfth, 
wherein  the  young  King  came  to  make  himself 
known,  are  in  everyone's  hands,  I  shall  content 
myself  with  referring  the  reader  to  them,  and  shall 
only  recall  certain  circumstances  which  do  not  ap- 
pear in  the  printed  record. 

The  Due  d'Orleans  was  equally  occupied  and 
anxious  about  so  decisive  a  day.  The  premier 
president  having  sold  himself  to  the  Due  du 
Maine,  the  Due  d'Orleans  bought  the  colonel  of 


16      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY, 

c 

the  French  guards,  the  Due  de  Guiche-Grammont; 

consequently,  the  regiment  quietly  occupied  all  the 
avenues  leading  to  the  palace,  and  officers  with 
chosen  soldiers,  but  not  in  uniform,  mingled  with 
the  people  in  the  halls.  Abbe  Dubois  affected  to 
take  into  one  of  the  boxes,  Stairs,  the  English 
ambassador,  so  as  to  insinuate  that  the  Court  at 
London,  if  it  were  necessary,  would  support  the 
Due  d'Orleans.  These  different  measures  were 
superfluous,  the  personal  character  of  the  oppo- 
nents decided  everything. 

The  Due  d'Orleans,  in  claiming  the  rights  of  his 
birth,  did  not  forget  to  say  flattering  things  of  the 
Parliament.  He  at  first  spoke  with  hesitation, 
but  he  recovered  his  assurance  by  degrees,  as  he 
saw  those  present  seemingly  favourable  to  him. 
Finally  the  regency  having  been  bestowed  on  him, 
there  was  more  discussion  on  the  guardianship  of 
the  young  King  and  on  the  command  of  the  troops 
of  his  Household  which  gave  to  the  Regent  and  to 
the  Due  du  Maine  the  appearance  of  clients  at  the 
feet  of  the  Court.  The  friends  of  the  former, 
feeling  that  the  sole  equality  of  the  part  degraded 
him,  advised  him  to  postpone  the  session  until  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     a? 

afternoon  to  settle  the  other  matters.  This  ad- 
vice was  a  party  stroke.  The  Regent  closed  the 
sitting  and  returned  to  his  rooms,  where  he  had 
time  to  collect  his  wits.  He  sent  for  the  attorney- 
general,  d'Aguesseau,  and  for  the  first  solicitor- 
general,  Joly  de  Fleury.  These  two  magistrates, 
the  most  enlightened  of  the  Parliament,  have  not 
yet  had  successors.  The  former,  full  of  wisdom, 
of  knowledge  and  of  probity,  sought,  saw  and  al- 
ways wanted  the  good.  The  other,  with  as  much 
intelligence,  but  more  shrewdness,  distinguished 
at  one  glance  between  two  good  things,  the  one 
which  suited  him  best,  and  knew  how  to  cause  it  to 
be  looked  upon  as  the  best. 

Botf  'inderstood  that  it  was  no  longer  a  ques- 
tion of  mining  if  the  execution  of  the  will 
wouli1  have  been  preferable  or  not  to  the  regency 
already  bestowed  on  the  Due  d'Orleans.  They 
felt  the  danger  of  separating  military  authority 
from  political  administration.  The  Regent,  sup- 
ported by  the  princes  and  the  peers  against  the 
legitimated,  would  have  soon  made  use  of  the 
authority  which  he  had  already  obtained,  to  take 
possession  of  that  which  might  be  refused  to  him, 


i8     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

a  thing  which  could  not  be  done  without  disturb- 
ing the  State;  whereas  the  Due  du  Maine,  being 
stripped  of  all  his  timidity,  was  a  guaranty  of 
peace. 

Matters  thus  arranged  at  the  Palais-Royal  no 
longer  found  any  obstacles  in  the  afternoon  sitting. 
The  Parliament  thought  it  best  to  appoint  a  Re- 
gent rather  than  he  should  appoint  himself.  A 
few,  in  setting  aside  the  will  of  Louis  XIV,  were 
not  sorry  of  the  chance  to  insult  the  dead  lion,  and 
to  appear  to  grant  freely  what  they  felt  was  bound 
to  slip  from  them. 

I  see  in  the  letters  of  Prince  de  Cellamare,  am- 
bassador from  Spain  to  France,  that  Philip  V  had 
flattered  himself  of  obtaining  the  regency  and  of 
having  it  administered  in  his  name  by  a  repre- 
sentative. Cellamare  writes  that  he  had  sounded 
the  dispositions  of  all  those  who  could  serve  the 
King  of  Spain,  and  that  all  had  declared  that  the 
proposition  alone  would  shock  the  entire  nation; 
but  that  all  confessed  openly  that  if  the  infant 
King  should  happen  to  die,  Philip  V  would  find  no 
difficulty  in  passing  to  the  throne  of  France.  Cel- 
lamare cites,  among  those  whom  he  approached 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      19 

about  the  matter,  the  house  of  Conde,  the  Due  de 
Guiche,  colonel  of  the  guards;  Courtenvaux,  cap- 
tain of  the  Cent-Suisses;  Marshal  de  Berwick,  Car- 
dinal de  Polignac;  the  Marquis  de  Torcy,  secre- 
tary of  State;  the  Due  de  Noailles  and  Marshal  d' 
Estrees,  the  last  two  being  particularly  attached 
to  the  Due  d'Orleans.  Cellamare's  instructions 
went  so  far  as  to  order  him  to  protest  against  any 
Regent  who  should  be  preferred  to  Philip  V;  he 
was  wise  enough  to  do  nothing  in  the  matter. 

The  Due  du  Maine,  who,  if  the  will  had  stood, 
was  to  play  a  principal  part,  had  a  most  wretched 
one.  He  knew  not  how  to  retain  authority  and 
allowed  himself  to  be  stripped  of  it.  The  Duch- 
esse  du  Maine,  in  face  a  kind  of  little  monster, 
quick,  ambitious,  with  wit  and  little  judgment, 
later  undertook  to  restore  her  husband  and  almost 
caused  his  undoing. 

The  Regent,  on  leaving  Parliament,  betook 
himself  to  Versailles  and  to  the  King,  and  then 
called  on  Madame,  who  said  to  him :  "  My  son, 
all  I  wish  is  the  good  of  the  State  and  your  fame. 
I  have  but  one  thing  to  ask  of  you  for  your  honour 
and  I  demand  your  word  upon  It."  He  gave  it. 


"  It  is  never  to  employ  that  rascal  of  Abbe  Du- 
bois,  the  greatest  scoundrel  to  be  found  in  the 
world,  and  who  would  sacrifice  the  State  and  you 
for  the  slightest  interest."  The  sequel  will  show 
that  Madame  had  more  judgment  than  her  son 
had  word. 

The  Regent  began  with  great  reforms  in  the 
household,  the  buildings  and  the  equipages  of  the 
King.  Louis  XIV  had  given  no  orders  as  to  his 
funeral;  the  economy  which  Louis  XIII  had  pre- 
scribed for  his  was  conformed  with.  The  entrails 
were  taken  to  Notre-Dame  and  the  heart  to  the 
Jesuits. 

Louis  XIV  had  ordered  that  immediately  after 
his  death  the  young  King  be  conducted  to  Vin- 
cennes  on  account  of  the  salubrity  of  the  air. 
The  Regent  wished  it,  so  as  to  be  nearer  to  Paris 
and  his  pleasures.  The  Court  physicians,  more 
comfortably  quartered  at  Versailles  than  they 
would  have  been  at  Vincennes,  considered  that 
the  purest  air  was  that  of  the  place  most  to  their 
liking;  and  all  the  servants,  for  the  same  reason, 
approved  the  medical  faculty.  The  Regent  sum- 
moned the  Paris  physicians  who,  for  reasons  per- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     21 

haps  as  disinterested  as  those  of  the  Court  phy- 
sicians, declared  themselves  in  favor  of  Vincennes; 
and  the  King  was  taken  there  on  the  9th  without 
going  through  Paris. 

On  the  same  day  the  body  of  Louis  XIV  was 
borne  to  Saint-Denis.  The  gatherings  in  the 
plain  were  tremendous.  All  sorts  of  food-stuffs 
and  refreshments  were  sold  there.  Everywhere 
people  could  be  seen  dancing,  singing,  drinking, 
giving  themselves  up  to  scandalous  rejoicing,  and 
many  were  unworthy  enough  to  pour  forth  insults 
on  seeing  the  hearse  which  contained  the  body  pass 
by. 

The  Regent,  in  his  first  labours  with  the  secre- 
taries of  State,  caused  the  list  of  all  the  lettres  de 
cachet  to  be  shown  to  him,  and  they  were  unable 
to  give  him  a  reason  for  the  existence  of  many  of 
them.  He  caused  all  those  who  were  incarcer- 
ated for  no  real  crime  to  be  liberated,  and  many 
such  cases  were  found;  almost  all  were  victims  of 
ministers  or  of  Father  Tellier.  Among  those  lib- 
erated was  a  Chevalier  d'Aremberg,  who  had  been 
imprisoned  for  eleven  years  for  having  assisted 
in  the  escape  of  Father  Quesnel  from  the  Malines 


22      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

prison.  I  have  seen  him  several  times  since  my 
youth,  and  although  he  was  not  old,  the  rigours 
of  prison  life  had  given  him  an  air  of  decrepi- 
tude. There  was  found  in  the  Bastille  an  Italian 
arrested  thirty-five  years  before,  on  the  day  of  his 
arrival  in  Paris.  He  argued  that  at  this  time 
a  grant  of  liberty  would  be  his  greatest  misfor- 
tune, as  probably  all  his  relatives  were  dead  or 
would  not  recognise  him.  The  Regent  gave  or- 
ders that  he  be  well  treated  at  the  Bastille,  with 
liberty  to  go  out  and  return.  The  condition  in 
which  the  prisoners  appeared  was  frightful. 

This  first  act  of  justice  won  the  Regent  the 
greatest  praise;  and  it  is  not  useless  to  remark 
that  the  opening  of  the  prisons  took  place  only  two 
days  after  the  funeral  of  Louis  XIV,  and  conse- 
quently was  not  the  cause  of  the  joy  shown  by  the 
people  on  that  occasion,  but  the  wish  and  hope  of 
better  conditions  being  always  the  only  thing  left 
them,  they  applaud  all  revolutions  in  the  govern- 
ment until  they  are  again  undeceived. 

As  soon  as  the  King  had  held  his  first  bed  of 
justice,  the  Regent  restored  to  the  Parliament  its 
right  of  remonstrance,  which  had  been  out  of  ex- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     23 

istence  for  a  long  time.  He  also  named  the  dif- 
ferent councils  which  he  had  announced.  That 
of  .the  regency,  to  which  all  the  others  were  to  be 
subordinate,  was  composed  in  part  of  members 
mentioned  in  the  will.  La  Vrilliere  was  its  sec- 
retary, Pontchartrain  entered  into  it  also,  but 
without  office,  and  both  without  a  vote.  Mar- 
shal Tallard,  although  named  in  the  will,  being 
unable  to  have  himself  named,  went  about  crying 
that  all  he  had  left  for  his  honour  was  to  have  the 
will  inscribed  on  his  back.  He  was  admitted 
later  to  the  council  of  the  regency. 

The  public,  impressed  by  the  virtue  and  the 
persecution  suffered  by  Cardinal  de  Noailles,  ap- 
plauded his  nomination  as  head  of  the  council  of 
conscience. 

The  Parliament  was  flattered  to  see  d'Agues- 
seau,  Joly  de  Fleury  and  the  Abbe  Pucelle  enter 
the  council  of  conscience,  and  Roujault,  Goeslard 
and  Abbe  Minguy  in  that  of  the  affairs  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  kingdom. 

Father  Tellier,  named  confessor  by  the  codicil 
of  Louis  XIV,  seeing  himself  without  office,  in 
view  of  the  King's  age,  asked  the  Regent  what 


24     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

was  his  present  destination.  "  That  does  not 
concern  me,"  replied  the  prince;  "  apply  to  your 
superiors." 

The  disorder  in  the  finances  demanded  the  seri- 
ous attention  of  the  government.  In  the  last 
years  so  many  books,  good  or  bad,  have  been 
written  about  agriculture,  commerce  and  finance, 
that  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  true  principles  will 
at  last  be  known.  All  we  shall  have  to  wish  for 
then  will  be  learned  ministers,  and  some  more 
attached  to  the  State  than  to  their  places.  With- 
out entering  into  a  systematic  discussion  of  these 
matters,  I  shall  limit  myself  to  reporting  the  events. 

Marshal  de  Villeroi  was  the  chef  de  represen- 
tation of  the  council  of  finances,  and  had  never 
been  anything  else,  whatever  post  he  had  held. 
He  had  been  the  possessor  of  one  of  the  handsom- 
est faces  that  could  be  shown  at  a  ball;  he  had 
the  air  and  manners  of  a  grand  seigneur,  a  mind 
narrow  and  lacking  culture,  old-fashioned  polite- 
ness, a  Court  jargon,  arrogance,  vain  glory,  and 
was  rather  servile  than  respectful  towards  the  late 
King  and  Mme.  de  Maintenon. 

The  Due,  since  Marshal  de  Noailles,  president 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     25 

of  this  same  council  of  finances,  was  its  real  mas- 
ter, and  bestowed  his  confidence  principally  on; 
Rouille  du  Coudray,  a  perfectly  honest  man  with 
much  wit  and  with  learning,  but  loving  wine  to 
excess,  scandalously  debauched,  and  without  any 
restraint  whatsoever. 

One  day,  when  before  the  whole  council,  and 
in  the  presence  of  the  Regent,  he  was  expressing 
himself  with  his  usual  freedom,  the  Due  de 
Noailles  said  to  him:  "  Monsieur  Rouille,  this 
savours  of  the  bottle."  "  That  may  be,  Mon- 
sieur le  due,"  retorted  Rouille,  "  but  never  of  pot 
de  vin  "  (bribery). 

This  dart  was  the  better  felt  as  the  Noailles 
had  the  reputation  of  being  not  over  particular 
in  certain  matters;  and  Rouille's  hands  were  so 
clean  that  a  company  of  contractors  having  sub- 
mitted to  him  a  list  of  their  partners  wherein  he 
found  blank  spaces,  he  asked  them  the  reason  of 
this;  they  answered  that  he  might  dispose  of  those 
places:  "But,  if  I  share  with  you,"  said  he  to 
them,  "  how  shall  I  be  able  to  have  you  hanged, 
in  case  you  turn  out  to  be  swindlers?" 

With  regard  to  the  Due  de  Noailles,  by  an- 


26     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

alysmg  him,  several  men  might  have  been  found 
in  him  and  some  with  a  price.  He  has  (for  he 
still  lives)  much  and  all  kinds  of  intelligence,  a 
flexible  eloquence  and  one  assorted  to  different 
subjects;  fascinating  in  his  conversation,  taking 
the  tone  of  all  those  to  whom  he  speaks,  and  often 
through  this  making  them  adopt  his  ideas,  when 
they  think  they  are  imparting  theirs  to  him;  a 
lively  and  fertile  imagination,  more  fruitful  in 
projects  than  in  resources.  Apt  to  dazzle  him- 
self, he  imagines  with  fire,  begins  with  warmth, 
and  suddenly  leaves  the  road  he  was  following 
to  take  the  one  which  crosses  it.  He  is  concerned 
for  his  personal  interest  only,  of  which  he  never 
loses  sight.  Master  of  himself,  he  appears  calm 
when  he  is  most  agitated.  His  conversation  has 
greater  value  than  his  writing;  for  in  trying  to 
combine  his  ideas,  through  excess  of  analysis,  he 
causes  everything  to  evaporate.  His  knowledge 
is  broad  and  varied,  but  shallow.  He  receives 
men  of  letters  rather  well,  and  made  good  use  of 
them  for  memoirs.  Devout  or  libertine,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  he  caused  himself  to  be  dis- 
graced in  Spain  by  proposing  a  mistress  to  Phi- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     2? 

lippe  V.  He  then  followed  Mme.  de  Maintenon 
to  church  and  kept  a  soubrette  at  the  beginning  of 
the  regency  so  as  to  be  in  the  fashion.  The  de- 
sire to  please  all  parties  has  made  him  play  em- 
barrassing parts,  sometimes  ridiculous  ones,  and  at 
others  humiliating.  A  zealous  citizen,  when 
his  own  interests  permitted  him  to  be,  he  applied 
himself  to  the  reform  of  finances  and  would  per- 
haps have  succeeded  had  the  Regent  allowed  him 
to  continue  his  operations.  Whatever  fortune 
the  Due  de  Noailles  might  have  procured  for  him- 
self, could  be  no  object  to  the  State.  The  shock 
of  the  pernicious  Law  system  would  at  least  have 
been  avoided ;  a  system  which  only  enriched  scoun- 
drels, great  and  small,  ruined  the  middle  class, 
the  most  honourable  and  most  useful  of  all,  upset 
conditions,  corrupted  morals,  and  changed  the 
national  character. 

As  there  was  nothing  set  in  the  etiquette  and 
the  ceremonial  of  France,  inasmuch  as  the  min- 
isters are  interested  that  it  should  be  thus,  so  as  to 
always  be  masters,  on  occasions,  to  decide  accord- 
ing to  particular  inclinations,  the  service  which 
took  place  at  Saint-Denis  for  the  late  King  was  the 


28     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

occasion  of  rather  lively  discussions  between  the 
Parliament  and  the  dukes  and  peers  who  bore 
the  honours.  The  Regent  was  careful  not  to  de- 
clare himself.  He  rather  liked  division  between 
bodies,  and  said  sometimes:  Divide  et  impera; 
but  there  was  as  much  weakness  as  there  was  pol- 
itics in  his  conduct.  Besides  he  affected  to  hold 
etiquette  in  contempt.  On  many  occasions,  eti- 
quette maintains  subordination,  takes  the  place 
of  manners  and  sometimes  preserves  them. 

Seeing  that  under  the  regency  one  could  regu- 
late one's  rights  on  one's  pretensions,  the  Duchesse 
de  Berri,  more  authorised  than  anyone  else,  took 
four  dames  du  palais,  although  no  daughter  of 
France  had  ever  had  more  than  a  dame  d'  hon- 
neur  and  a  dame  df  atours.  She  also  decided  to 
have  a  company  of  guards.  The  Regent  ex- 
plained to  her  but  uselessly  that  never  had  daugh- 
ter of  France,  nor  Queen,  except  the  Queen-re- 
gent, mother  of  Louis  XIV,  had  such  a  distinc- 
tion: it  was  necessary  to  satisfy  her,  but  he  gave 
at  the  same  time  a  similar  company  of  guards  to 
his  mother  Madame,  widow  of  Monsieur. 

For  want  of  the  title  of  Queen,  the  Duchesse  de 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     29 

Berri,  seeking  to  take  to  herself  its  honours  and 
even  to  surpass  them,  rode  through  Paris  from 
the  Luxembourg  where  she  dwelt,  to  the  Tui- 
leries,  surrounded  by  her  guards,  with  trumpets 
playing.  Marshal  de  Villeroi  proved  to  the  Re- 
gent that  this  honour  belonged  only  to  the  King, 
wherever  he  may  be;  now  it  happened  that  he 
then  lived  at  the  Tuileries,  where  he  was  brought 
on  the  30  December  1715,  for  the  convenience  of 
the  councils  and  of  the  service.  The  Duchesse  de 
Berri  was  therefore  obliged  to  stop  at  her  first 
trial  at  trumpets  which  since  then  remained  at  the 
Luxembourg.  She  tried  to  get  satisfaction  in  an- 
other undertaking  in  which  she  was  not  more  suc- 
cessful. She  appeared  under  a  canopy  at  the 
Opera,  and  the  next  day  at  the  Comedie,  four  of 
her  guards  being  on  the  stage  and  the  others  in 
the  pit.  There  was  a  general  outcry  and,  in  an- 
ger, she  after  that  locked  herself  in  a  small  box 
where  she  was  incognito.  Both  the  opera  and 
the  comedies  were  then  given  at  the  Palais-Royal. 
The  Chevalier  de  Bouillon,  who  had  himself  called 
Prince  d'Auvergne,  suggested  the  balls  of  the 
Opera,  which  would  divert  from  private  balls, 


30     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

where  disorder  often  arose;  while  a  military 
guard  could  maintain  order  at  the  Opera.  The 
project  was  approved,  and  was  worth  six  thou- 
sand livres  of  pension  to  the  Prince  of  Auvergne 
for  his  suggestion  rights.  The  proximity  of  the 
Regent's  apartments  were  the  cause  of  his  often 
showing  himself  there  after  supper,  in  a  condition 
not  quite  proper  for  the  administrator  of  the 
kingdom.  At  the  very  first  ball,  state  councilor 
Rouille  came  there  intoxicated,  because  that  was 
his  taste  and  habit ;  and  the  Due  de  Noailles  in  the 
same  condition,  to  pay  his  court. 

If  the  Regent  had  intended  to  maintain  the 
laws  and  good  order,  he  would  have  taken  advan- 
tage of  the  duel  between  Ferrand,  captain  of  the 
King's  Regiment,  and  Girardin,  captain  of  the 
guards,  to  make  an  example;  but  he  contented 
himself  with  having  them  removed  from  their  po- 
sitions. Without  expressing  himself  too  openly, 
he  insinuated  that  duels  had  gone  too  much  out  of 
fashion.  He  permitted  Caylus  to  come  and  clear 
himself  of  his  against  the  Comte  d'Auvergne. 
However,  the  Regent  forbade  a  duel  to  the  Due 
de  Richelieu,  and  the  Comte  de  Baviere  who,  hav- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     31 

ing  had  words  together,  had  appointed  a  meeting 
to  settle  matters.  Shortly  after  that,  the  Due  de 
Richelieu  and  Gace,  son  of  Marshal  de  Matig- 
non,  fought  a  duel  and  wounded  each  other 
slightly.  The  Parliament  issued  a  writ  against 
them  and  the  Regent  sent  them  to  the  Bastille. 
Further  inquiry  being  made,  they  were  freed. 
Some  time  after  that,  Jonsac  d'Aubeterre  and  Vil- 
ette,  brother  of  the  Comtesse  de  Caylus,  also 
fought.  The  Parliament  proceeded  against 
them,  but  they  left  the  Kingdom. 

More  than  a  year  before  the  death  of  Louis 
XIV,  Stairs,  ambassador  from  England  to 
France,  had  sought  to  become  intimate  with  the 
future  Regent.  He  felt  that  if  the  Due  du  Maine 
was  in  authority,  having  been  brought  up  with  the 
King's  principles,  he  would  be  favourable  to  the 
House  of  Stuart.  He  therefore  turned  towards 
the  Due  d'Orleans,  and  through  Dubois,  secured 
secret  conferences,  and  persuaded  the  due  that 
King  George  and  he  had  the  same  interests.  The 
better  to  gain  his  confidence,  he  agreed  that 
George  was  a  usurper  with  regard  to  the  Stuarts, 
but  he  added  that  if  the  feeble  offspring  of  the 


32     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Royal  family  of  France  should  happen  to  die,  all 
renunciations  would  not  prevent  him,  the  Due  d' 
Orleans,  from  being  looked  upon  as  a  usurper  with 
regard  to  the  King  of  Spain.  He  could  there- 
fore, said  Stairs,  have  no  surer  ally  than  King 
George.  Abbe  Dubois,  who  had  the  aims  which 
we  shall  see  later,  continually  strove  to  inspire 
these  sentiments  in  his  master. 

Hardly  had  the  Due  d'Orleans  been  declared 
Regent  when  Stairs  came  to  see  him.  He  spoke 
to  him  of  a  conspiracy  real  or  false  which  was, 
said  he,  about  to  break  out  in  London  against 
King  George,  and  proposed  to  him  a  treaty  of 
guarantee  for  the  successions  of  France  and  of 
England.  Whatever  the  London  conspiracy  may 
have  been,  the  Comte  de  Marr,  at  the  head  of  a 
party  in  Scotland  in  favour  of  the  pretender,  was 
making  sufficient  progress  for  people  to  advise  that 
prince  to  go  and  strengthen  him  by  his  presence. 
He  left  Bar  and  was  crossing  France  to  go  and 
embark  from  Brittany. 

Stairs  was  informed  of  this  and  came  to  ask 
the  Regent  to  have  the  prince,  who  was  to  pass 
at  Chateau-Thierry,  arrested.  The  Regent,  who 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     33 

wished  at  the  same  time  to  foment  the  disturb- 
ances in  Scotland,  and  make  a  show  of  his  zeal 
for  King  George,  gave,  in  the  presence  of  Stairs, 
orders  to  Contades,  major  of  the  guards,  to  go 
to  Chateau-Thierry  and  surprise  the  pretender  as 
he  passed  through.  Contades,  an  intelligent  man 
and  well  informed  as  to  the  secret  intentions  of 
the  Regent,  went  away,  fully  resolved  not  to  find 
what  he  sought. 

Stairs,  little  trusting  the  demonstrations  of  the 
Regent,  resolved  to  deliver  King  George  of  all 
fear  by  means  of  a  scoundrelly  act.  He  learned 
through  his  spies  that  the  pretender  was  hidden 
at  Chaillot  in  the  house  of  the  Due  de  Lauzun, 
from  whence  he  was  to  betake  himself  to  Brittany. 
He  commanded  Douglas,  an  Irish  colonel  in  the 
pay  of  France,  to  go  and  ambush  himself  at 
Nonancourt,  with  three  assassins.  On  arriving 
there  they  asked  so  persistently,  if  a  chaise  had 
not  passed,  that  they  became  suspicious  to  a  certain 
Mme.  1'Hopital,  the  post-mistress,  a  woman  of 
intelligence  and  resolution. 

The  news  of  the  pretender's  voyage  had  already 
spread  since  he  had  disappeared  from  Bar,  and 


34     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  eagerness  of  these  couriers  made  her  think  that 
they  had  evil  designs.  In  fact,  it  has  been  learned 
since  that  Douglas'  three  satellites  were  de- 
termined scoundrels  who,  before  leaving  London, 
had  arranged  a  settlement  on  their  family,  in  case 
they  should  be  captured  and  executed  after  having 
committed  their  crime.  The  post-mistress  assured 
them  that  for  the  past  days  no  chaise  had  passed, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  any  to  pass  without  re- 
laying, or  at  least  without  being  seen,  and  that 
they  might  rest  assured  that  nothing  would  escape 
them.  Douglas,  after  having  uselessly  remained 
two  hours  on  the  threshold,  put  one  of  his  men 
on  watch,  gave  his  orders  to  the  second,  in  a 
whisper,  and  took  the  third  with  him  to  go  for- 
ward on  the  road  to  Brittany. 

The  post-mistress  immediately  sent  out  one  of 
her  servants  on  the  road  to  Paris  to  look  out  for 
the  arrival  of  the  chaise,  and  to  direct  it  to  the 
house  of  a  trusty  friend  whom  she  went  to  warn 
by  leaving  the  house  through  the  back  door.  On 
her  return,  she  learned  that  one  of  the  two  English- 
men, who  seemed  to  be  the  superior  of  the  other, 
had  thrown  himself  on  a  bed  where  he  was  sleep- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     35 

ing.  She  told  the  one  at  the  door  that  he  would 
be  warned  as  quickly  within  the  house  as  outside, 
and  suggested  that  he  take  a  drink.  He  entered 
and  a  trusty  postilion  having  excited  him  to  drink, 
he  became  completely  intoxicated.  At  the  same 
time  she  locked  up  the  one  who  was  in  bed  asleep 
and  sent  for  the  constabulary;  the  locked-up 
Englishman  was  caught  on  the  bed  whereon  he 
slept.  He  became  furious  at  seeing  himself  ar- 
rested and  referred  to  the  ambassador.  He  was 
told  that  until  he  had  proven  that  he  belonged  to 
the  Comte  de  Stairs,  he  would  remain  in  prison, 
where  they  also  took  the  intoxicated  man. 

During  that  time  the  pretender  arrived  and  was 
conducted  to  the  house  where  he  was  expected. 
Mme.  1'Hopital  sought  him  out  there  and  ex- 
plained to  him  what  was  taking  place.  The  pre- 
tender, filled  with  gratitude,  did  not  conceal  his 
identity,  and  remained  hidden  at  Nonancourt,  as 
a  precaution  against  those  who  were  still  free. 

Douglas,  soon  informed  of  what  had  happened 
to  the  two  Englishmen  at  Nonancourt,  returned  to 
Paris.  A  few  days  after,  the  pretender  went 
away,  disguised  as  an  ecclesiastic,  in  a  chaise 


36     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

secured  by  his  rescuer.  He  gave  her  a  letter  for 
the  Queen  of  England,  to  whom  she  went  to  give 
an  account  of  the  whole  affair  at  Saint  Germain. 
The  Queen  gave  her  her  portrait,  the  pretender 
also  sent  her  his  own,  the  situation  of  the  mother 
and  son  not  permitting  them  other  marks  of  grati- 
tude. The  good  Mme.  1'Hopital,  satisfied  with 
the  service  she  had  rendered,  asked  nothing  of  the 
Regent  for  what  she  had  spent,  and  remained  for 
twenty-five  years  in  charge  of  the  post  which  her 
son  and  daughter-in-law  still  hold.  The  auda- 
cious Stairs,  to  hide  his  crime,  had  the  impudence 
to  speak  of  the  imprisonment  of  his  assassins  as 
a  violation  of  the  rights  of  people.  He  was 
made  to  feel  how,  for  the  sake  of  his  honour,  it 
would  be  well  for  him  to  keep  silent. 

Nesmond,  Bishop  of  Bayeux,  died  that  year. 
He  was  a  simple  and  artless  man  with  many  vir- 
tues. He  said  one  day  to  a  priest  who  was  offer- 
ing excuses  for  having  been  at  a  wedding  dinner 
after  the  example  of  Jesus  Christ  at  the  wedding 
of  Canaan:  "This  is  not  the  most  beautiful 
thing  in  His  life."  It  was  only  after  his  death 
that  his  numerous  charities  to  the  poor  families 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     37 

of  his  diocese  became  known.  He  secretly  sent 
thirty  thousand  livres  yearly  to  King  James  II. 

Marshal  de  Chamilli  (Bouton),  celebrated  for 
his  glorious  defence  of  Graves,  also  died  that  year. 
He  had  been  a  handsome  man,  and  in  his  youth 
had  served  in  Portugal,  where  he  had  been  much 
loved  by  a  nun.  It  is  to  him  that  the  Lettres 
Portugalses  are  addressed. 

Although  the  Regent  had  given  his  word  to 
Madame  never  to  employ  Abbe  Dubois,  he  gave 
him  a  place  as  state  councilor,  to  the  great  horror 
of  the  magistracy.  What  principally  determined 
the  Regent,  was  that  no  prelate  asked  for  the 
place,  not  wishing  to  be  preceded  at  the  Council 
by  Abbe  Bignon,  a  plain  churchman.  People 
were  not  less  shocked  to  see  such  a  character  suc- 
ceed one  of  the  most  worthy  prelates  of  the  king- 
dom, Fortin  de  la  Hoquette,  Archbishop  of  Sens. 
He  had  declined  the  Order  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
"  not  having,"  said  he,  "  the  birth  required  by 
the  statutes."  It  was  suggested  that  his  gene- 
alogy be  altered;  he  replied:  "  I  do  not  wish  to 
degrade  the  order  by  my  birth  and  still  less  to 
degrade  myself  by  a  lie."  The  King  having 


38     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

offered  to  dispense  him  from  furnishing  proofs, 
he  replied  that  he  did  not  wish  to  serve  as  an  ex- 
ample of  a  violation  of  rules,  and  persisted  in  his 
refusal. 

If  the  entrance  of  Abbe  Dubois  to  the  Council 
showed  little  consideration  for  the  public,  the 
Regent  and  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  respected  it  still 
less  by  their  habits. 

The  Regent  gave  to  public  affairs  a  morning 
more  or  less  long  according  to  the  hour  at  which 
he  had  gone  to  bed.  There  was  a  set  day  for 
foreign  ministers:  the  other  days  were  divided 
between  the  heads  of  councils;  about  three  o'clock 
he  took  chocolate,  and  everyone  entered  as  is  done 
to-day  at  the  King's  levee.  After  a  general  con- 
versation lasting  a  half  hour,  he  worked  again 
with  someone  or  held  a  regency  council.  Before 
or  after  this  council,  or  this  work,  he  called  upon 
the  King,  to  whom  he  always  showed  greater  re- 
spect than  anyone  else,  a  thing  which  the  child 
noticed  very  well. 

Between  five  and  six  o'clock,  all  business  ceased ; 
he  called  upon  Madame,  either  in  her  winter 
apartment,  or  at  Saint-Cloud  in  the  fine  season, 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     39 

and  always  showed  her  much  respect.  It  was 
seldom  that  he  allowed  a  day  to  pass  without 
going  to  the  Luxembourg  to  see  the  Duchesse  de 
Berri.  Towards  the  supper  hour,  he  retired  with 
his  mistresses,  sometimes  chorus  girls,  or  others 
of  that  class,  and  ten  or  twelve  of  his  male  in- 
timates whom  he  called  his  roues.  The  principal 
ones  were  Broglie,  the  eldest  son  of  the  marshal 
of  France,  due  in  title;  the  Due  de  Brancas, 
grandfather  of  the  one  living  to-day ;  Biron,  whom 
he  made  due;  Canillac,  cousin  of  the  commander 
of  the  musqueteers,  and  a  few  persons  obscure  in 
themselves  and  distinguished  for  their  wit  or 
debauchery.  Every  supper  was  an  orgy.  There 
the  wildest  licence  reigned:  filth  and  impiety  was 
the  foundation  or  seasoning  of  every  subject,  until 
total  intoxication  put  the  guests  out  of  condition 
to  speak  and  to  hear.  Those  who  could  still  walk 
withdrew  and  the  others  were  carried  away;  and 
each  day  resembled  the  last.  The  Regent  during 
the  first  hour  of  his  levee,  was  still  so  dull,  so 
oppressed  by  the  fumes  of  wine,  that  he  could  have 
been  made  to  sign  anything. 

Sometimes,  the  place  of  the  scenes  was  the  Lux- 


40     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

embourg,  at  the  Duchesse  de  Berri's.  This  prin- 
cess, after  several  passing  love  affairs,  had  settled 
on  the  Comte  de  Riom,  younger  son  of  the  house 
of  Aydie  and  grand  nephew  to  the  Due  de 
Lauzun.  He  had  but  little  intelligence,  a  rather 
vulgar  figure  and  a  pimply  face  which  might  have 
been  repugnant  to  many  a  woman.  He  had  come 
from  his  province  to  try  to  secure  a  company, 
being  only,  at  that  time,  a  lieutenant  of  dragoons, 
and  he  soon  inspired  in  the  princess  the  strongest 
of  passions. 

Riom  was  magnificently  lodged  at  the  Luxem- 
bourg, surrounded  by  a  profusion  of  luxury; 
people  went  to  pay  court  to  him,  before  calling  on 
the  princess,  and  were  always  received  with  the 
greatest  politeness,  but  he  did  not  treat  his 
mistress  in  the  same  manner;  there  was  not  a  whim 
which  he  did  not  make  her  endure.  Sometimes, 
she  being  about  to  go  out,  he  made  her  stay  in ;  he 
displayed  disgust  for  the  dress  she  wore,  and  she 
changed  it  submissively. 

He  had  reduced  her  to  a  point  where  she  sent 
to  him  for  his  orders  as  to  her  dress  and  her  plans 
for  the  day;  and  after  having  given  them,  he 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     41 

changed  them  suddenly,  was  rough  to  her,  made 
her  weep,  and  come  and  ask  his  pardon  for  the 
thoughtless  offences  of  which  she  had  been  guilty. 
The  Regent  was  indignant  at  his  conduct,  and  was 
often  ready  to  have  Riom  thrown  out  of  the  win- 
dows, but  his  daughter  forced  him  to  silence, 
applied  to  him  the  same  treatment  she  received 
from  her  lover,  and  he  ended  by  being  as  sub- 
missive towards  his  daughter  as  she  was  towards 
Riom.  If  these  different  scenes  had  not  had  so 
many  witnesses  they  would  be  incredible. 

What  was  specially  inconceivable,  was  the 
politeness  of  Riom  to  everyone  and  his  insolence 
to  the  princess.  He  owed  this  system  of  conduct 
to  the  Due  de  Lauzun,  his  uncle.  The  latter  re- 
joiced in  seeing  his  nephew  act,  at  the  Luxem- 
bourg, the  same  personage  he  himself  had  acted 
with  Mile,  de  Montpensier,  and  had  convinced 
him  that  he  would  lose  his  mistress  should  he 
spoil  her  by  a  respectful  tenderness,  and  that  the 
princess  wanted  to  be  reprimanded.  Riom  had 
profited  by  his  uncle's  lessons  and  success  proved 
their  efficacy.  That  princess,  so  haughty  with 
her  mother,  so  imperious  with  her  father,  so  vain 


42      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

with  the  whole  world,  cringed  in  the  presence  of 
a  Gascon  cadet.  She  had,  however,  a  few  pass- 
ing caprices,  notably  with  the  Chevalier  d'Aydie, 
a  cousin  of  Riom ;  but  they  were  of  short  duration, 
and  passion  triumphed  until  the  end. 

The  suppers,  the  revels,  the  morals  of  the  Lux- 
embourg were  the  same  as  at  the  Palais-Royal, 
since  it  was  very  much  the  same  company.  The 
Duchesse  de  Berri,  with  whom  only  the  princess 
of  the  blood  could  eat,  dined  openly  with  obscure 
people  whom  Riom  produced.  There  was  even 
a  certain  Father  Reiglet,  a  Jesuit,  a  fawner, 
habitual  guest  and  so  called  confessor.  Had  she 
made  use  of  his  ministry,  she  could  have  dispensed 
with  telling  him  many  things  of  which  he  was  a 
witness  and  participant. 

The  Marquise  de  Mouchy,  lady  of  the  bed- 
chamber of  the  princess,  was  her  worthy  confidant. 
She  lived  secretly  with  Riom,  as  the  duchesse 
lived  openly  with  him,  and  that  rival,  hidden  and 
convenient,  reconciled  the  two  lovers  when  their 
quarrels  promised  to  go  too  far. 

A  singular  thing  about  the  Duchesse  de  Berri 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     43 

was,  that  she  thought  that  she  was  making  amends 
or  concealing  the  scandal  of  her  life  by  a  thing 
which  really  aggravated  it.  She  had  taken  an 
apartment  at  the  Carmelites  of  rue  Saint- Jacques, 
where  she  went  from  time  to  time  to  spend  a  day. 
On  the  eve  of  great  festivals  she  slept  there,  ate 
with  the  nuns,  took  part  in  the  day  and  night 
services  and  returned  from  there  to  the  orgies  of 
the  Luxembourg. 

The  Regent  also  tried  to  edify  the  public  and 
was  no  more  successful  than  his  daughter.  He 
marched  in  great  solemnity  to  Saint-Eustache  on 
Easter  and  took  communion  there.  The  contrast 
between  his  daily  life  and  this  religious  act  made 
a  very  bad  impression. 

Although  we  were  at  peace  with  Europe,  nego- 
tiations were  not  the  less  brisk.  England  was 
treating  with  both  France  and  Spain  at  the  same 
time,  and  strove  to  extend  its  commerce  to  the 
prejudice  of  both  powers.  It  was  to  our  interest 
to  take  as  a  model  the  conduct  of  the  house  of 
Austria,  as  long  as  it  had  ruled  over  Spain  and 
the  Empire,  but  Abbe  Dubois  drew  the  Regent 


44     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

towards  England,  boasting  to  him  of  her  power 
and  assistance,  in  case  the  King  should  happen 
to  die. 

On  the  other  hand  Alberoni,  with  the  sole  title 
of  envoy  from  Parma  to  Madrid,  ruled  the 
Queen,  and  consequently  the  monarchy.  He  was 
one  of  those  men  whom  fortune  sometimes  offers 
as  an  object  of  emulation  to  the  ambitions  born 
in  the  dust.  The  son  of  a  gardener,  he  left  his 
calling  when  he  entered  that  of  the  Church,  which 
admits  them  all  and  often  confounds  them. 

The  Duke  of  Parma,  having  some  affair  to 
communicate  to  the  Due  de  Vendome,  general  of 
the  Spanish  army  in  Italy,  sent  him  Rancoveri, 
Bishop  of  Borgo.  The  Due  de  Vendome  was  in 
his  shirt  on  his  chaise  percee,  when  the  bishop  was 
announced.  He  had  him  ushered  in  and  did  not 
constrain  himself  in  his  presence  any  more  than 
he  did  before  his  army.  While  speaking  of 
affairs,  he  continued  the  different  operations  of 
his  toilet  before  the  prelate,  who  was  much  scan- 
dalised at  it,  and  who  on  his  return,  asserted  that 
he  would  never  reappear  at  so  indecent  an 
audience.  The  Duke  of  Parma  sought  out  a  man 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     45 

who  would  have  no  right  to  be  over  particular 
as  to  etiquette.  Abbe  Alberoni  was  presented  to 
him.  The  prince  having  conversed  with  him, 
judged  that  he  would  be  the  proper  person  to 
carry  on  the  negotiations,  and  that  the  Due  de 
Vendome,  with  the  character  he  had,  would  be 
little  concerned  with  the  dignity  of  the  personage, 
who  besides  was  masked  in  the  clerical  habit. 
Alberoni  was  received  as  the  bishop  had  been ;  but 
without  taking  offence  at  anything,  he  interrupted 
the  conference  with  jests  appropriate  to  the  occa- 
sion, and  which  amused  the  Due  de  Vendome 
greatly.  The  general,  on  rising  from  his  chair, 
presented  himself  in  such  a  manner  that  the  abbe 
exclaimed:  "Ah!  culo  di  Angela!"  The  Due 
de  Vendome  was  so  pleased  at  the  abbe's  merry 
humour  that  he  refused  to  treat  with  anyone  else. 
The  affair  of  the  Due  de  Parma  was  soon  settled, 
and  the  abbe,  after  having  rendered  an  account 
of  it  to  his  master,  came  to  establish  himself  in 
the  house  of  the  Due  de  Vendome.  His  position 
was  not  quite  clear.  At  times  he  appeared  to 
be  a  chaplain,  a  secretary  on  other  occasions,  and 
more  frequently  a  cook,  making  cheese  soups  for 


46     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  due.  He  was  specially  able  to  amuse  him 
by  ribald  stories.  The  subordinate  position 
brought  so  little  consideration  to  the  abbe  that 
one  of  the  officers  of  the  household,  offended  at 
his  freedom,  struck  him  with  a  cane  one  day,  with- 
out the  abbe  seeming  the  least  degraded  by  the 
act,  and  all  that  came  of  the  affair  was  to  make 
the  due  laugh,  and  he  thought  neither  more  nor 
less  of  Alberoni  on  that  account.  At  the  end  of 
the  campaign,  the  abbe  followed  his  master  to 
France,  and  through  his  assistance  secured  a 
pension  of  a  thousand  ecus.  He  then  appeared 
in  the  light  of  an  acknowledged  secretary,  and 
returned  to  Italy  in  the  train  of  the  Due  de 
Vendome.  The  general  having  died  there, 
Alberoni  withdrew  to  Parma,  and  his  prince, 
knowing  him  fit  for  affairs,  appointed  him  his 
minister  at  Madrid.  It  was  there  that  having 
taken  part  in  the  marriage  of  the  Princess  of 
Parma  with  Philip  V,  he  began  the  flight  which 
carried  him  so  high.  He  successfully  set  aside 
all  those  who  might  be  able  to  outweigh  his  credit, 
and  worked  to  become  a  cardinal,  either  by 
serving  Rome,  or  by  making  himself  feared  there. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     47 

The  court  of  Spain  was  already  on  rather  bad 
terms  with  that  of  Rome  with  regard  to  Sicily  on 
which  an  interdict  had  been  thundered  on  account 
of  a  matter  which  deserves  to  be  mentioned. 

It  is  necessary  first  to  recall  that  about  1125, 
'Roger,  Duke  of  Sicily,  caused  his  States  to  be  set 
up  as  a  hereditary  kingdom  by  the  pope,  on. 
condition  that  it  would  be  amenable  to  the  holy 
see.  But  by  the  same  decree,  it  was  agreed  that 
there  would  be  in  Sicily  a  perpetually  existing 
tribunal,  wholly  composed  of  laymen  named  by 
the  King,  and  absolutely  independent  of  the  pope; 
that  this  tribunal  should  judge  sovereignly  and 
without  appeal  all  civil  and  criminal  cases  from 
layman  to  layman,  from  layman  to  ecclesiastic, 
and  finally  between  ecclesiastics,  archbishops, 
bishops,  priests,  monks  and  chapters,  even  in 
cases  of  censure  and  excommunication,  without 
that  tribunal  ever  having  to  render  an  account  of 
its  acts  to  any  one  but  the  King,  and  never  to  the 
pope;  and  without  the  King  ever  being  liable  to 
citations,  censures  and  excommunications. 

This  tribunal  of  the  monarchy  had  since  its 
establishment  enjoyed  all  its  jurisdiction,  when  in 


48      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

1711,  a  farmer  of  the  Bishop  of  Lipari  brought 
peas  to  the  market.  The  King's  tax  collectors 
tried  to  collect  the  ordinary  tax  for  exposing  the 
foods  for  sale.  The  farmer,  without  saying  who 
he  was,  refused  payment  and  had  his  peas  seized. 
The  bishop  availing  himself  of  ecclesiastic  im- 
munity which  exempted  him  from  paying  the  tax, 
excommunicated  the  collectors,  without  making 
an  inquiry.  The  collectors,  only  through  this 
learning  to  whom  the  peas  belonged,  returned 
them  at  once  and  complained  of  the  farmer  who, 
by  a  single  word,  could  have  prevented  the  trouble. 
The  bishop  demanded  such  ridiculous  amends  that 
the  collectors  rendered  an  account  of  the  matter 
to  their  superiors,  whose  remonstrances  caused 
them  in  turn  to  be  excommunicated.  The  tribunal 
of  the  monarchy  attempted  to  conciliate  all  parties 
and  were  also  excommunicated;  third  excommuni- 
cation on  account  of  chick-peas. 

The  Court  of  Rome,  impatiently  enduring  this 
tribunal  of  Sicily,  had  tried,  in  order  to  destroy 
it,  to  take  advantage  of  a  new  government  which 
it  flattered  itself  to  find  weaker  than  the  preceding 
one.  The  bishop,  judging  that  his  dignity  would 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY .    49 

not  save  him  from  prison,  took  refuge  in  Rome. 
The  reception  he  received  there  aroused  the  zeal 
of  several  other  bishops,  and  each  having  hurled 
his  thunderbolt,  prudently  fled  to  Rome;  and  the 
pope  immediately  interdicted  Sicily.  Then  a 
crowd  of  priests  and  monks,  not  daring  to  ex- 
pose themselves  to  the  punishment  due  to  those 
who  would  observe  the  interdict,  followed  the 
prelates. 

This  schism  was  in  full  force,  when,  by  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  1715,  Sicily  was  ceded  to 
the  Duke  of  Savoy,  with  the  title  of  King.  The 
pope  thought  that  he  did  not  owe  any  more  con- 
sideration to  Victor  than  to  Philip  V;  but  the 
new  government  of  Sicily  was  firm,  the  more 
specially  because  there  remained  behind  enough 
sensible  priests  to  carry  on  the  services,  and  be- 
cause the  catholic  powers  condemned  this  eccle- 
siastic undertaking.  The  Paris  Parliament  took 
sides  in  the  matter,  and  by  a  decree  of  the  I5th 
February,  1710,  allowed  the  attorney-general  to 
appeal  by  writ  of  error;  a  thing  it  had  not  dared 
to  do  during  the  lifetime  of  Louis  XIV. 

The  Jesuits  wishing  to  observe  the   interdict, 


50     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

without  giving  up  their  establishments,  used  all 
their  tricks  to  foment  sedition.  The  Comte 
Maffei,  viceroy  of  Sicily,  planned  matters  so  well 
that  one  night,  all  the  Jesuits,  without  exception 
of  fathers  or  brothers,  well  or  ill,  were  carried 
away,  placed  on  two  vessels,  soon  landed  on  the 
coasts  of  the  ecclesiastic  State  and  abandoned  to 
their  good  or  bad  fortune.  They  went  to  Rome 
as  best  they  could. 

The  pope,  much  embarrassed  by  this  deluge 
of  monks,  did  not  become  more  tractable  on  that 
account;  but  the  apostolic  chamber  soon  tiring  of 
supplying  sustenance  to  so  many  guests,  a  decree 
was  soon  posted  in  Rome  ordering  the  exiles  to 
leave  the  city,  under  the  most  severe  penalty. 
They  were  compelled  to  obey.  Hunger  cooling 
fanaticism,  they  tried  to  return  to  Sicily,  but  Comte 
Maffei  did  not  permit  them  to  do  so.  They  scat- 
tered over  the  countries  of  Italy,  where  the 
majority  perished  miserably.  The  King  of  Sicily 
was  as  firm  as  the  pope  was  stubborn. 

The  pontiff,  without  raising  the  interdict,  dared 
not  use  against  the  prince,  nor  his  ministers,  the 
censures  to  which  he  foresaw  that  but  little  atten- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     51 

tion  would  be  paid.  Matters  therefore  remained 
the  same  until  the  time  when  the  Emperor  be- 
came master  of  Sicily  through  the  transfer  of 
Sardinia,  of  which  King  Victor  took  the  title. 
The  ecclesiastic  pretension  vanished;  the  interdict 
was  raised  of  its  own  accord;  the  tribunal  of  the 
monarchy  remained  in  full  power  of  its  jurisdic- 
tion, and  the  pope  found  himself  very  fortunate 
that  the  Emperor,  already  master  of  Naples  and 
of  Milan,  condescended  to  overlook  the  sequels 
of  the  adventure  of  the  chick-peas,  and  allowed  the 
matter  to  drop. 

I  have  not  undertaken  to  write  a  political  his- 
tory which  would  demand  the  greatest  details,  and 
fatigue  its  readers;  but  I  shall  recall  the  different 
objects  of  negotiations  which  may  be  necessary  to 
make  clear,  link  the  facts  and  make  known  the 
character  and  the  interests  of  those  who  had  a 
part  in  affairs.  It  is  but  too  true  that  treaties  of 
peace  are  but  truces.  Hardly  have  nations  laid 
down  their  arms  when  cabinet  war  begins.  Nego- 
tiations are  carried  on,  alliances  are  sought,  so  as 
to  get  into  a  condition  to  resume  hostilities  with 
more  advantage. 


52      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Never  was  the  state  of  ferment  of  courts 
greater  than  during  the  regency;  but  the  State, 
much  disturbed  internally,  remained  at  peace  with 
its  neighbours.  The  different  interests  of  the 
princes,  in  crossing  one  another  reciprocally,  pre- 
served peace. 

The  pope,  seeing  with  fear  a  powerful  arma- 
ment of  the  Turks,  feared  for  Italy,  and  asked  as- 
sistance of  France,  Spain,  and  Portugal.  The 
Emperor  was  at  the  same  time  thinking  of  defend- 
ing himself  against  the  Turk  and  to  enlarge  his 
territory  in  Italy,  so  that  the  pope  feared  him  as 
much  as  the  Turk. 

Spain  negotiating  with  England,  had  just  con- 
cluded the  treaty  of  Assiento,  so  favourable  to 
the  English,  and  Holland,  having  its  new  treaty, 
only  thought  of  restoring  herself  by  commerce. 

England,  where  the  succession  in  the  Protestant 
line  was  not  yet  very  well  established,  still  feared 
a  revolution. 

Although  the  pretender  had  failed  in  his  en- 
terprise, the  Jacobite  party  was  still  powerful. 
The  Whigs  and  the  Torys  were  continually  at 
war  with  each  other.  All  the  powers  needed  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      53 

preserve  peace,  and  the  majority,  fearing  war, 
were  ready  to  declare  it. 

More  than  anyone  else  was  the  Regent  anxious 
to  preserve  quiet  at  home  and  abroad.  Stairs 
and  Abbe  Dubois,  acting  in  concert,  therefore 
persuaded  him  that  if  the  King  should  happen  to 
die,  the  renunciations  would  be  considered  void; 
that  the  Regent  could  only  ascend  the  throne  as 
a  usurper,  and  that  then  he  and  King  George, 
having  similar  rights,  had  nothing  else  to  do  than 
to  form  a  close  alliance  to  support  each  other  in 
case  of  trouble.  By  this  alliance  Dubois  assured 
to  himself  the  protection  of  the  King  of  England, 
whose  credit  he  knew  with  the  Emperor.  He  also 
knew  what  authority  the  latter  had  over  the  pope, 
and  he  promised  himself  to  take  advantage  of 
every  circumstance  which  time  and  intrigue  might 
bring  forth. 

The  Regent  never  had  much  desire  to  reign; 
the  care  he  took  of  the  King's  health  is  the  most 
convincing  proof  of  this;  but  he  believed  that  he 
would  have  been  in  duty  bound  to  support  the 
renunciations  should  the  occasion  offer.  In  ex- 
onerating him  from  the  horrors  with  which 


54     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

slander  has  charged  him,  whose  impressions  still 
subsist  in  the  minds  of  some,  I  am  far  from 
writing  a  eulogy  of  him;  with  all  the  possible  inr 
telligence  and  talents,  he  was  always  incapable  of 
good  government,  and  the  regency,  although  at 
peace  without,  was  pernicious  to  the  State,  and 
A  specially  to  morals. 

Wise  measures,  precautions,  a  prudent  defiance 
of  the  House  of  Austria  and  of  England,  a  last- 
ing alliance  with  Spain:  such  was  the  interest  of 
France,  but  it  was  not  that  of  Dubois.  If  he 
strove  to  foment  discord  between  two  Kings 
of  the  same  blood,  he  was  ably  seconded  in  that 
project  by  Alberoni,  another  scoundrel  of  the  same 
cloth.  The  latter,  master  of  the  Spanish  mon- 
archy, awed  the  pope,  and  the  treaty  of  Assiento 
was  so  favourable  to  the  English,  that  there 
seemed  to  be  no  doubt  that  Alberoni  had  received 
considerable  sums  with  which  he  expected  to  buy 
the  cardinal's  hat  if  he  could  not  earn  it.  As  he 
had  noticed,  the  inclination  that  Philip  V  still  had 
for  France,  he  was  careful  to  expose  the  renuncia- 
tions as  illusory  to  that  prince;  thus  Dubois  and 
Alberoni  both  strove,  each  one  separately,  to  in- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     55 

spire  in  the  King  of  Spain  and  the  Regent  a  dis- 
like for  each  other. 

Although  negotiations  already  were  begun  with 
England,  Stairs  continued  to  give  disquieting 
reports  about  France,  so  as  to  secure  for  King 
George  subsidies  which  the  Parliament  would  not 
have  granted,  had  it  considered  peace  as  a  cer- 
tainty. This  manoeuvre  has  often  been  used  by 
the  English  ministers  and  always  with  success. 
That  minister  was  labouring  at  the  same  time  at 
the  making  of  a  seven  year  Parliament  instead  of 
a  three  year  one.  The  majority  of  the  peers, 
dissatisfied  with  the  government,  were  opposed  to 
this  project  and  wished  another  Parliament  of 
which  they  would  always  be  sure  to  be  members; 
while  those  of  the  House  of  Commons  wanted  an 
extension  which  would  save  them  the  canvassing 
which  they  would  be  obliged  to  do  to  obtain  the: 
votes  in  a  new  election  of  representatives.  The 
tWhigs,  who  were  in  power  then,  had  so  cruelly 
persecuted  the  Torys,  tliat  they  feared  their  re- 
sentment should  they  get  the  upper  hand  in  the 
new  Parliament.  The  ministers  acted  so  quickly, 
on  this  occasion  that  the  Parliament  was  extended* 


56      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  Regent,  already  quite  busy  with  political 
negotiations,  was  beside  persecuted  by  the  Nuncio 
Bentivoglio,  with  regard  to  the  Constitution,  while 
Bissy  and  Rohan,  hurt  at  the  favour  shown  Car- 
dinal de  Noailles,  sought  to  annoy  him. 

They  took  it  into  their  heads  to  suggest  the 
blessing  anew  of  the  chapel  of  the  Tuileries  where 
the  service  had  always  been  performed,  as  long 
as  Louis  XIV  had  remained  in  Paris,  and  where 
the  young  King  daily  heard  mass  since  his  return 
from  Vincennes.  Their  object  was  that  Cardinal 
de  Rohan  should  have  the  honour  of  performing 
the  ceremony  of  that  benediction  as  grand  almoner. 
They  did  not  know  that  that  question  already  had 
been  decided  on  the  occasion  of  blessing  the 
chapel  of  Versailles,  whose  benediction  had  been 
conferred  to  Cardinal  de  Noailles  against  the  pre- 
tensions of  the  grand  almoner,  Cardinal  de  Janson. 
All  Rohan  gained  by  this  attempt  was  to  enter  his 
protests.  He  undertook  something  else  but  with 
no  greater  success. 

Cardinal  de  Noailles,  in  interdicting  the 
Jesuits,  had  continued  the  powers  to  Fathers 
Gaillard,  de  la  Rue,  Lignieres  and  du  Trevoux; 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     57 

the  last  had  the  title  of  confessor  to  the  Regent. 
The  grand  almoner  has  the  right  to  name  the 
preachers  of  the  King's  chapel;  and  the  one  who 
preaches  on  All  Saints'  Day  also  preaches 
at  the  Advent. 

Rohan  on  leaving  for  Strasburg,  affected  to 
select  for  the  preaching  of  the  sermon  on  All 
Saints'  Day  Father  de  la  Ferte,  related  or  allied 
to  all  the  Court,  and  whose  powers  ended  in 
August.  Cardinal  de  Noailles  could  stop  him 
short  by  interdicting  him  personally.  He  did 
nothing  in  the  matter,  but  contented  himself  with 
writing  about  it,  the  day  after  the  sermon,  to 
Cardinal  de  Rohan,  who  did  not  reply,  but  the 
cardinal,  tired  of  waiting  for  that  reply,  gave 
notice  of  a  general  interdiction  to  the  Jesuits,  and 
to  Father  de  la  Ferte.  He  had  become  a  Jesuit 
in  spite  of  the  marshal,  his  father  who  always 
spoke  of  it  with  anger  as  the  basest  of  acts.  The 
Due  de  la  Ferte  having  died  without  children,  the 
Jesuit  would  have  become  duke  and  peer  had  he 
not  made  his  vows;  and  the  ill  humour  he  ex- 
hibited about  this  at  times  irritated  the  Jesuits,  who 
relegated  him  to  La  Fleche,  where  he  died. 


58     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

To  hinder  intrigues  of  the  Jesuits,  the  Regent 
named  as  confessor  to  the  King,  Abbe  Fleury,  so 
celebrated  for  his  ecclesiastical  history  and 
specially  for  the  excellent  discourses  which  it  con- 
tains. He  had  been  under-preceptor  of  the  Dues 
de  Bourgogne,  d'Anjou  and  de  Berri. 

The  Regent,  tormented  by  Stairs,  and  annoyed 
by  Bentivoglio,  could  have  had  both  recalled :  the 
first  by  quieting  the  anxieties  of  King  George  and 
by  the  public  desertion  of  the  pretender,  without 
making  a  formal  treaty  of  alliance  with  England; 
the  second,  by  informing  the  pope  of  the  scan- 
dalous morals  of  the  nuncio.  It  is  true  that  the 
pope  might  answer  with  an  objection  to  those  of 
the  Jesuit  Lafiteau,  our  minister  to  Rome.  The 
fear  of  losing  the  hat,  the  usual  reward  of  the 
nunciature  of  France,  would  have  made  him  as 
pliable  as  the  Regent  might  have  wished  him  to 
be,  but  this  required  more  firmness  than  he  had. 

The  Duchesse  de  Berri  caused  to  be  given  to 
her  the  Chateau  de  la  Muette;  and  its  price  was 
paid  by  the  King  to  d'Armenonville,  who  secured, 
besides,  the  enjoyment  of  the  Chateau  de  Madrid, 
in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  the  survivorship  for  his 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     59 

son  Morville,  and  a  brevet  de  retenue  of  four 
hundred  thousand  livres  on  his  office  of  Secretary 
of  State.  The  princess  obtained  besides  for  La 
Haye,  her  former  lover,  a  third  place  as  gentil- 
homme  de  la  manche  du  Roi,  with  six  thousand 
livres  pension,  and  soon  a  fourth  place  was 
created  for  a  protege  of  Mme.  de  Ventadour. 

The  Duchesse  de  Berri,  irritated  at  the  mourn- 
ing for  Louis  XIV,  compelled  the  Regent  to  re- 
duce all  mournings  by  half,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
death  of  the  Queen-mother  of  Sweden. 

So  as  to  spend  the  nights  of  summer  in  the 
garden  of  the  Luxembourg  with  a  freedom  which 
was  more  in  need  of  accomplices  than  of  witnesses, 
she  had  all  its  gates  walled  up,  with  the  exception 
of  the  principal  one,  which  was  closed  or  opened 
according  to  the  occasion. 

The  Regent  bought  for  his  natural  son,  the 
Chevalier  d'Orleans,  the  post  of  general  of  the 
galleys,  from  Marshal  de  Tesse,  who  made  two 
hundred  thousand  livres  on  it. 

Rouille  du  Coudray  also  induced  the  Regent 
to  recall  the  Italian  comedians  who  had  been  ex- 
pelled by  the  King  for  having  acted  La  Fausse 


60     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Prude,  in  which  the  public  thought  they  recog- 
nised Mme.  de  Maintenon. 

The  new  troop  took  the  name  of  Comediens  du 
Regent  and  was,  under  the  inspection  of  Rouille, 
independent  of  the  gentils  hommes  de  la  chambre. 
This  novelty,  for  some  time,  caused  the  Theatre- 
Frangais  to  be  deserted,  and  Italian  farces  eclipsed 
the  masterpieces  of  our  stage. 

The  brevets  de  retenue  were  distributed  with- 
out limit  and  without  choice.  Among  so  many 
favours  lavished  or  prostituted,  the  Regent  ren- 
dered justice  to  the  merit  of  Vittemant  by  naming 
him  under-preceptor  to  the  King.  An  address 
which  he  had  delivered  to  the  head  of  the 
University,  of  which  he  was  rector,  had  made 
him  known  to  Louis  XIV,  who  gave  him  the  place 
of  reader  to  the  Dauphin.  Hardly  had  he  begun 
his  functions  as  under-preceptor  when  the  young 
King  appeared  to  become  attached  to  him.  The 
Regent,  who  noticed  it,  and  who,  during  his  ad- 
ministration, was  always  careful  to  set  an  example 
of  respect  to  the  King,  and  to  seek  what  would 
please  him,  thought  of  giving  him  the  pleasure 
of  doing  Vittemant  a  favour. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     61 

He  one  day  brought  the  King  the  brevet  of  an 
abbey  worth  fifteen  thousand  livres  income,  made 
out  to  Vittemant.  The  child,  delighted  to  per- 
form personally  this  master's  act,  sent  for  Vitte- 
mant, and  in  the  presence  of  the  Regent,  Marshal 
de  Villeroi  and  the  Bishop  of  Frejus,  gave  him 
the  brevet,  calling  him  by  the  title  of  the  abbey. 
Vittemant,  not  understanding  at  first  why  the 
King  gave  him  a  new  name,  the  Regent  spoke  and 
explained  to  him  the  favour  which  the  King  be- 
stowed on  him. 

Vittemant  lost  himself  in  thanks  and  said  that 
he  was  overwhelmed  by  the  King's  generosity;  that 
his  fortune  was  already  beyond  his  desires,  and 
that  having  no  needy  relatives,  he  would  not  know 
to  what  use  to  put  an  increase  of  income.  "  You 
will  give  it  away  to  charity,"  said  the  Bishop  of 
Frejus.  "  And  why,"  replied  Vittemant,  "  re- 
ceive charity  to  bestow  it  again?  Besides,  I  am 
not  in  a  position  at  Court,  to  know  those  who 
should  be  assisted;  a  curate  could  perform  that 
duty  better  than  I." 

The  Regent,  Villeroi  and  the  bishop,  little  ac- 
customed to  such  language,  first  looked  upon  Vit- 


02      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

temant  as  a  clever  hypocrite,  and  smilingly  pressed 
him  to  accept;  but  the  refusal  was  serious;  nothing 
could  conquer  his  resistance;  they  found  it  neces- 
sary to  seek  for  this  abbey  a  less  peculiar  per- 
sonage and  he  was  not  hard  to  find.  The  modest 
Vittemant  attended  only  to  his  duties  while  at 
Court,  and  when  his  functions  were  ended,  he 
withdrew  to  the  Doctrine  Chretienne.  I  could 
not  leave  in  oblivion  the  name  of  so  virtuous  a 
man;  I  shall  not  have  enough  such  anecdotes  to 
tire  the  reader. 

The  chamber  of  justice,  established  by  an  edict 
of  the  month  of  March,  was  beginning  its  opera- 
tions whose  effects  were  very  different  from  what 
had  been  promised.  It  had  been  expected  that 
through  the  taxes  immense  sums  would  be  drawn, 
sums  which  would  suffice  to  the  most  urgent  ex- 
penditures. It  was  understood  that  all  the  brev- 
ets de  retenue,  the  military  charges,  were  to  be 
reimbursed,  made  free,  that  their  sales  would  be 
stopped,  so  that  the  King  would  always  be  in  a 
position  to  reward  merit  and  encourage  emulation. 
Fine  projects,  no  doubt,  but  which  are  only  imag- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     63 

ined  by  those  who  have  not  the  power  to  carry 
them  out ! 

All  the  fruit  of  that  chamber  of  justice,  which 
subsisted  a  year,  was  to  open  the  door  to  thou- 
sands of  denunciations,  real  or  false.  Consterna- 
tion entered  all  finance  and  all  allied  to  it;  money 
was  hidden  and  circulation  totally  stopped.  A 
few  financiers  were  sacrificed  to  the  public  fury. 
Influence  sold,  protections  bought  caused  taxes 
to  be  remitted  or  lowered.  Those  which  were 
paid  became  the  prey  of  lost  or  intriguing  women 
and  of  the  Regent's  companions  in  debauch. 

Some  went  so  far  as  to  suggest  a  general  bank- 
ruptcy. Those  who  offered  this  cruel  remedy  al- 
leged that  it  was  equally  impossible  to  pay  the  im- 
mense debts  or  to  allow  the  enormous  taxes  to  ex- 
ist; the  weight  of  the  latter  crushing  down  the 
people. 

Among  the  creditors  of  the  State  many  had 
taken  advantage  of  public  misfortune;  all  the 
debts,  legitimate  as  well  as  usurious,  were  princi- 
pally limited  to  the  capital;  this  did  not  concern 
the  nobility,  the  peasants  nor  the  artisans.  The 


64      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

clamours,  it  was  said,  would  be  loud,  but  the  dis- 
charge of  the  taxes  would  arouse  applause  suffi- 
cient to  drown  all  clamours. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  edict,  its  promoters  ex- 
pected to  support  their  stand  by  motives  of  just 
and  specious  rights.  The  crown,  they  said,  is  not 
purely  hereditary,  as  is  the  property  of  individ- 
uals, since  women  can  not  succeed  to  it.  It  is  an. 
entail  from  male  to  male.  The  King  is  only  a 
usufructuary  who  can  not  bind  himself  beyond  his 
natural  life.  The  entailed  properties  of  individ- 
uals are  not  answerable  for  debts;  could  the  crown 
fare  worse?  The  successor  is  therefore  not  re- 
sponsible for  the  acts  of  his  predecessor;  he  holds 
nothing  from  him,  but  from  the  law.  If  this  prin- 
ciple, they  added,  can  be  impressed  on  the  mind  of 
the  nation,  the  State  can  never  again  be  in  the  po- 
sition in  which  it  is  now.  Each  one  will  be  con- 
vinced that  in  lending  to  the  King,  he  can  only 
count  on  the  life  and  personal  honesty  of  that 
prince.  The  King  not  being  in  a  position  to  bor- 
row and  to  lure  by  the  hope  of  gain,  found  himself 
in  the  fortunate  impossibility  of  ruining  his  sub- 
jects, and  forced  to  an  economical  government. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     65 

The  rentiers  would  no  longer  form  an  idle  class  in 
the  State.  The  excessive  population  of  Paris 
would  return  to  the  provinces.  It  might  be  feared 
that  a  spendthrift  prince  being  unable  to  borrow, 
might  resort  to  the  multiplication  of  taxes,  but  ex- 
cess in  such  matters  is  dangerous  to  the  prince's 
own  person. 

The  reply  was : 

Is  there  not  the  alternative  between  bankruptcy 
and  the  perpetuity  of  the  taxes?  Can  not  a  gov- 
ernment by  the  suppression  of  superfluous  and 
abusive  expenditures,  by  an  economical  administra- 
tion, by  a  studied  examination,  a  just  distinction 
of  the  nature  of  debts,  and  specially  by  proving  to 
the  nation  the  integrity  of  a  new  management,  and 
the  good  faith  of  the  government,  inspire  confi- 
dence, re-establish  circulation,  lighten  the  burden 
of  taxation,  and  begin  the  discharge  of  legitimate 
and  urgent  debts  ?  Shall  no  difference  be  made  be- 
tween those  who  have  sacrificed  all  to  the  service  of 
the  State,  and  those  who  have  acquired  their  for- 
tunes from  its  misfortunes? 

The  Regent  was  impressed  by  this  argument, 
and  the  project  of  bankruptcy  was  rejected.  Sym- 


66     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

pathy  for  the  legitimate  and  unfortunate  creditors 
only  served  as  a  pretext  of  the  refusal.  The  true 
motive  was  the  personal  interest  of  the  adminis- 
trators of  finances,  who  found  in  the  liquidation, 
in  the  continuation  of  taxes,  in  the  renewal  of 
agreements,  a  thousand  means  of  making  creatures 
and  of  amassing  millions. 

The  Law  system  has  made  as  many  and  more 
unfortunates  than  bankruptcy,  has  corrupted 
morals,  and  has  had  none  of  the  advantages  of 
the  proposed  edict.  This  system,  considered  by 
itself,  has  had  its  apologists,  who  have  pretended 
that  it  was  only  pernicious  through  the  abusive 
use  made  of  it  and  through  the  ill  will  of  those 
who  had  an  interest  in  causing  it  to  fail.  Others 
have  always  condemned  it  as  indefensible  under 
an  absolute  monarchy,  whatever  advantages  it 
might  have  under  a  republic  and  in  a  mixed  gov- 
ernment. Experience  has  but  too  well  justified 
that  sentiment. 

Law's  best  operation  was  the  establishment  of 
the  banque  generale,  composed  of  twelve  hundred 
shares  of  three  thousand  livres  each.  Its  advan- 
tage was  felt  at  first;  circulation  was  restored  and 


JOHN  LAW 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     63 

its  success  would  have  been  assured  if  that  banque 
generale  had  not  degenerated  into  a  banque  roy- 
ale:  which  soon  gave  birth  to  that  unfortunate 
system. 

A  few  assemblies  of  Protestants,  in  Poitou,  in 
Languedoc  and  in  Guienne,  caused  the  govern- 
ment some  anxiety.  It  was  further  increased  by 
the  discovery  of  a  large  number  of  guns  and  bayo- 
nets near  a  place  where  the  Protestants  had  as- 
sembled. The  fear  of  an  uprising  and  the  horror 
of  renewing  the  barbarities  which  had  followed 
the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  strongly 
agitated  the  Regent's  mind.  He  was  on  the  point 
of  repealing  the  edict  and  recalling  the  Protes- 
tants. He  conferred  about  the  matter  separately 
with  several  members  of  the  council  and  all  de- 
terred him  from  his  idea.  Questions  for  or 
against  liberty,  in  matters  of  religion,  are  usually 
decided  by  passion.  Irreligion,  as  well  as  super- 
stition, has  its  fanaticism,  and  the  Regent  being 
very  susceptible  to  the  former,  he  had  to  be  made 
to  see  the  affair  as  a  statesman  and  solely  from  the 
political  side. 

It  is  indubitable  that  consciences  should  be  free; 


68      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

but  does  the  tranquillity  of  states  allow  of  cults  be- 
ing the  same?  The  example  of  England  and 
Holland  is  not  exactly  applicable  to  France  in  its 
present  condition:  First,  the  two  mentioned 
states  have,  as  we,  their  national  cult,  the  other 
religions  being  only  tolerated;  second,  they  are 
manifold,  and  it  is  easier  to  keep  the  peace  among 
four  or  five  religions  than  it  is  between  two  that 
are  equally  powerful,  because  divided  hatred  is 
weakened  and  people  can  then  limit  themselves  to 
the  emulation  of  good  morals;  third,  in  Eng- 
land and  in  Holland,  the  heterodox  are  as  numer- 
ous as  the  orthodox.  The  experience  of  their  ca- 
lamities of  the  past  makes  them  fear  to  see  their 
nation  armed  against  itself. 

In  France,  the  Protestants  are  few  in  compari- 
son to  the  Catholics.  If  the  Protestants  are 
granted  public  worship,  and  in  every  respect  the 
same  privileges  as  other  citizens,  their  number 
will  increase,  the  attraction  of  novelty  will  bring 
them  converts  among  the  Catholics  themselves, 
dissension  will  spring  up  in  families,  religious  zeal 
will  become  fanaticism;  minds  will  become  in- 
censed; a  popular  uprising  will  be  the  signal  of 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     69 

a  civil  war;  we  shall  again  be  thrown  into  the 
horrors  which  we  recall  only  with  terror. 

Uniformity  of  religion  would  be  the  greatest 
blessing  of  the  State,  but  it  is  not  the  work  of  man. 
Let  us  limit  ourselves  to  the  efforts  of  human  pru- 
dence. Let  the  government,  without  formally  re- 
pealing the  edict  of  revocation,  or  placing  the 
Protestants  in  the  position  they  formerly  held, 
assure  them  of  the  rights  of  citizenship  by  a  duly 
registered  declaration.  Let  them  be  free  as  to 
their  sentiments,  let  us  no  longer  demand  that,  by 
a  criminal  complacency  in  their  eyes,  they  come 
to  take  part  in  our  worship,  but  let  us  not  allow 
them  a  public  one.  Let  the  exercise  of  their  re- 
ligion take  place  in  and  be  limited  to  the  home. 
Let  them  enjoy  all  the  rights  of  citizens  whose 
burdens  they  bear,  but  let  them  not  aspire  to  any 
public  office  or  employment.  Let  us  severely 
punish  whomsoever  disturbs  their  tranquillity. 
No  persecution,  much  indifference  and  forgetful- 
ness:  that  is  death  to  all  sects.  That  which  ex- 
ists through  blind  obstinacy  merely  vegetates  in 
contempt.  Truth  itself,  constantly  despised,  but 
not  persecuted,  would  have  but  few  partisans. 


70     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

I  speak  from  experience.  I  have  seen  in  my 
youth  a  small  town  wherein  the  Protestants  were 
in  numbers  equal  to  the  Catholics.  A  nobleman, 
of  beneficent  character,  who  has  dominion  over 
it,  by  rendering  exact  justice  to  the  Protestants, 
but  by  procuring  all  distinctions  to  the  Catholics, 
by  favouring  marriages,  has  brought  matters  to  a 
point  that  there  are  but  two  old  men  remaining 
who,  while  persevering  in  their  sect,  have  them- 
selves consented  to  the  abjuration  of  their  chil- 
dren. 

Civil  toleration  is  by  right  natural;  but  to  im- 
press it  in  the  mind  of  a  nation,  there  would  be 
required  the  long  reign  of  an  absolute  monarch, 
preserver  of  morals  by  authority  and  example, 
strict  and  respectful  observer  of  the  established 
cult,  were  he  indifferent  to  all  of  them.  The  Re- 
gent unfortunately  possessed  but  the  last  of  these 
qualities.  It  was  sufficient  to  make  him  favourable 
to  the  return  of  the  Protestants,  but  Abbe  Dubois, 
wishing  at  all  cost  to  become  cardinal,  felt  that  he 
could  ask  nothing  of  Rome  after  such  a  scandal; 
and  as  he  was  the  Regent's  great  casuist  in  affairs 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     fcil 

of  politics  and  religion,  he  caused  him  to  abandon 
his  design. 

At  that  time  the  princes  of  the  blood  presented 
a  petition  to  the  King,  signed  by  M.  le  due  (de 
Bourbon),  the  Comte  de  Charolais  and  the  Prince 
de  Conti,  against  the  edict  of  1711  and  the  dec- 
laration of  1715,  which  gave  to  the  Due  du  Maine 
and  to  the  Comte  de  Toulouse  the  rank  of  princes 
of  the  blood  and  the  right  of  succession  to  the 
crown. 

Immediately  the  dukes  and  peers  presented  a  re- 
quest to  the  King,  tending  to  cause  the  legitimated 
princes  to  be  reduced  to  the  rank  of  their  peerage. 

England,  while  negotiating  with  the  Regent, 
was  also  treating  with  Spain,  from  which  it 
wished  to  secure  many  commercial  advantages; 
and  the  Regent,  who  only  desired  to  foster  peace, 
willingly  lent  himself  to  the  aims  of  England. 
To  this  end,  he  represented  to  King  George  that 
that  which  would  please  Spain  most  would  be  the 
restitution  of  Gibraltar.  George,  with  a  power- 
ful fleet,  and  master  of  Port-Mahon,  had  but  lit- 
tle use  for  Gibraltar,  and  spent  considerable  on  it. 


72      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

He  therefore  consented  to  this  sacrifice,  but  fear- 
ing to  anger  the  English,  he  sent  word  to  the 
Regent  that  the  affair  could  succeed  only  by  the 
greatest  secrecy;  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  a 
faithful  man,  at  Madrid,  to  treat  directly  with 
the  King  of  Spain,  without  the  participation  of 
Alberoni.  The  Regent  entrusted  the  mission  to 
Louville,  who  had  been  gentilhomme  de  la  cham- 
bre  of  Philip  V  and,  of  all  Frenchmen,  the  one 
whom  that  prince  had  most  liked.  It  was  known 
that  it  was  only  with  regret  that  he  had  sacrificed 
him  to  the  Princesse  des  Ursins;  and  no  one 
doubted  that  Philip,  on  seeing  him  again,  would 
be  as  friendly  with  him  as  he  had  been  from  in- 
fancy. 

The  motives  which  caused  Louville  to  be  chosen 
were  precisely  those  which  caused  the  whole  affair 
to  fail. 

Provided  with  his  instructions,  he  departed  se- 
cretly, and  arrived  in  Madrid,  at  the  Due  de  Saint- 
Aignan's,  our  ambassador.  Alberoni,  notified  of 
this  by  his  spies,  of  whom  he  had  a  great  number, 
conceived  the  greatest  anxiety  at  so  mysterious  a 
voyage,  and  thought  that  its  sole  object  was  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     73 

ruin  him  in  the  mind  of  the  King.  Hardly  had 
Louville  arrived  when  he  received  the  order  to 
leave  Spain  at  once.  He  replied  that  he  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  letter  of  credence  from  the  King  and  of 
another  from  the  Regent  which  he  was  to  deliver 
into  the  hands  of  His  Catholic  Majesty,  and  that 
he  would  not  leave  without  having  executed  his 
commission.  That  same  night,  he  had  so  violent 
an  attack  of  nephritis  that  a  bath  was  prepared 
for  him.  His  reply  not  being  the  kind  to  reas- 
sure Alberoni,  he  came  in  person  to  the  residence 
of  the  Due  de  Saint-Aignan  and  found  Louville 
in  the  bath.  He  told  him  that  the  King  was  much 
displeased  at  his  arrival,  that  he  absolutely  refused 
to  see  him,  and  that  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  hand 
him  his  dispatches  and  return  home  at  once.  Lou- 
ville replied  that  his  duty  forbade  him  to  do  the 
first,  and  that  his  condition  did  not  permit  him  to 
carry  out  the  second.  Alberoni,  being  unable  to 
doubt  Louville's  impossibility  to  resume  his  jour- 
ney, pretended  to  pity  him,  exaggerated  the  sup- 
posed anger  of  the  King,  and  promised  to  do  all  in 
his  power  to  have  an  excuse  accepted  which,  how- 
ever, could  only  last  as  long  as  his  malady. 


74      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

At  the  end  of  three  days,  Louville  again  re- 
ceived orders  more  absolute  than  the  first.  Final- 
ly seeing  that  he  could  not  obtain  an  audience,  and 
suspecting  that  Alberoni  took  advantage  of  the 
King's  name,  he  risked  presenting  himself  on  the 
King's  passage,  in  the  hope  of  being  seen  by  him 
and  of  being  able  to  present  his  letters.  But  Al- 
beroni, who  had  Louville's  every  movement 
watched,  rendered  this  attempt  useless  by  having 
the  King  surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  creatures 
sold  to  the  minister.  A  moment  after,  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  Gimaldo,  came  to  Louville,  and  pos- 
itively ordered  him,  in  the  King's  name,  to  leave, 
threatening  to  have  him  removed  by  force  if  he 
delayed  an  instant. 

The  Due  de  Saint-Aignan,  perhaps  displeased 
at  not  being  in  the  secret  of  the  affair,  and  fear- 
ing some  violence,  pressed  Louville  to  obey.  He 
accordingly  departed  without  having  done  any- 
thing, and  without  the  King  ever  having  known 
what  was  taking  place  in  his  name;  and  an  in- 
solent minister  was  the  cause  of  the  failure  of 
Spain's  only  opportunity  to  recover  Gibraltar. 

Measures  had  been  so  well  taken  that  if  Lou- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     75 

ville  could  have  seen  the  King  of  Spain,  he  would 
easily  have  made  him  accept  and  sign  the  but 
slightly  important  conditions  demanded  by  King 
George,  and  the  latter  was  immediately  to  send 
the  order  to  the  governor  to  turn  over  the  place: 
a  body  of  troops  was  to  appear  on  the  instant  to 
take  possession  and  Gibraltar  would  have  been  in 
the  power  of  the  Spanish  before  the  Parliament  of 
England  had  even  heard  it  rumoured. 

Alberoni  knew  that  he  was  hateful  to  the 
Spaniards,  that  his  sole  authority  came  from  the 
Queen,  that  he  was  suspicious  to  the  King,  and 
that  that  prince  would  certainly  dismiss  him  if  the 
complaints  of  his  administration  should  reach  him. 
He  therefore  spared  nothing  to  remove  all  those 
who  might  reveal  his  manoeuvres  or  injure  his 
credit.  The  two  men  who  disturbed  him  most 
at  Court  were  Cardinal  del  Giudice,  prime  min- 
ister in  name,  great  inquisitor  and  tutor  of  the 
Prince  des  Asturies;  the  other,  the  Jesuit  d'Auben- 
ton,  confessor  to  the  King.  The  latter  did  not 
like  Alberoni;  but  he  did  not  care  to  try  his 
strength  against  a  minister  dear  to  the  Queen, 
and  recalled  that  the  Princesse  des  Ursins  had 


76  SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

had  him  sent  away,  and  did  not  the  less  fear  the 
Queen,  who  did  not  like  the  Jesuits  and  had  never 
wanted  one  for  a  confessor. 

Alberoni,  covetous  of  the  cardinal's  hat,  knew 
that  del  Giudice  was  indignant  that  he  should  have 
such  a  colleague,  and  was  not  ignorant  of  the  fact 
that  the  pope  had  great  confidence  in  d'Aubenton, 
with  whom  he  even  corresponded.  Consequently, 
he  decided  to  attach  the  latter  to  himself  so  as 
to  ruin  the  other;  and  both  worked  towards  that 
end  in  concert,  each  one  in  his  own  way. 
Alberoni  suggested  to  the  Queen  that  it  was  dan- 
gerous for  her  to  leave  the  heir  to  the  monarchy 
in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  instilled  in  him  the 
principles  of  the  former  government,  and  would 
estrange  him  from  a  stepmother;  so  that,  if  she 
should  happen  to  lose  the  King,  she  would  find  her- 
self without  consideration,  and  perhaps  relegated 
to  a  convent. 

On  the  other  hand,  d'Aubenton  gave  the  King 
to  understand  that  the  functions  of  grand  in- 
quisitor did  not  allow  of  Cardinal  del  Giudice  to 
give  the  necessary  attention  to  the  education  of 
the  Prince  des  Asturies,  who  had  need  of  a  man 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     77 

exclusively  engaged  in  so  important  a  task.  The 
Queen  and  the  confessor  acted  so  efficaciously 
that  the  place  of  tutor  to  the  prince  was  taken, 
from  the  cardinal  and  given  to  the  Due  de 
Popoli,  a  Neapolitan,  a  man  of  much  intelligence, 
a  clever  courtier,  thoroughly  corrupt,  with  all  the 
exterior  graces  which,  while  hiding  vice,  only  ren- 
der it  more  dangerous.  He  was  strongly  suspected 
of  having  poisoned  his  wife,  who  belonged  to  his 
house,  heiress  of  the  elder  branch,  and  whose 
death  left  him  master  of  all  her  property. 

A  few  days  after  this,  the  cardinal  received  the 
order  to  no  longer  come  to  the  council  meetings. 
He  then  resigned  his  place  as  grand  inquisitor  and, 
soon  after,  retired  to  Rome. 

Prince  de  Cellamare,  son  of  the  Due  de  Gio- 
venazzo,  brother  of  Cardinal  del  Giudice,  was 
then  Spanish  ambassador  to  France.  In  the  fear 
of  being  discredited  with  the  powerful  and  vin- 
dictive Alberoni,  he  wrote  to  him,  begging  him 
not  to  confound  him  with  his  uncle,  and  to  con- 
tinue his  protection  to  him,  with  the  Queen.  Al- 
beroni turned  that  letter  to  good  account  and  ex- 
hibited it  with  affectation,  saying  that  the  cardinal 


78      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

must  have  been  guilty  of  great  wrongs  since  he  was 
abandoned  by  a  nephew  so  wise  and  enlightened. 
This  letter  only  proved  the  ambition  and  the  base- 
ness of  Cellamare.  ' 

D'Aubenton  saw  himself  obliged  to  write  to 
the  pope,  to  exaggerate  the  rare  qualities,  even 
the  virtues  of  Alberoni;  but  specially  his  zeal  for 
the  Court  of  Rome  and  his  power  in  Spain.  This 
last  clause  was  the  most  decisive  to  caution  the 
pope  against  the  accusations  of  Giudice  and  the 
other  enemies  of  the  minister.  D'Aubenton  ex- 
pected that  after  having  contributed  to  the  car- 
dinalship  of  Alberoni,  the  latter,  having  nothing 
else  to  look  to,  would  assist  him  to  obtain  it  for 
himself.  It  is  thus  that  this  precious  hat  can  put 
in  motion  a  nation's  entire  clergy,  and  sometimes 
that  of  Europe.  Alberoni,  knowing  its  full  value, 
judged  that  the  purple  would  protect  him  in  all 
emergencies,  and  even  his  downfall  has  proven 
that  he  was  not  wrong. 

Alberoni,  fearing  nothing  more  from  the  Span- 
iards near  the  King,  was  anxious  about  the 
Parmesans  whom  a  curiosity  to  see  the  Queen 
might  draw  to  Madrid,  and  forgot  nothing  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     79 

keep  them  away.  The  ease  with  which  he  had 
subjugated  the  Queen  made  him  fear  that  an- 
other might  acquire  the  same  influence  over  the 
mind  of  that  princess.  He  saw  with  much  grief 
the  arrival  of  the  Queen's  nurse,  with  a  sort  of 
peasant,  her  husband,  and  a  capuchin  son.  This 
sort  of  people  do  not  ordinarily  appear  on  the 
scene;  but  they  sometimes  place  and  displace  the 
actors  who  play  the  most  important  roles. 
Alberoni  had  started  from  too  low  a  rank  to  have 
the  right  not  to  fear  a  capuchin,  foster-brother  to 
the  Queen;  fortunately,  the  latter  happened  to 
be  a  fool;  but  the  nurse,  with  the  coarseness  of 
her  original  condition,  wished  to  be  considered 
something  and  succeeded.  She  was  shrewd, 
clever,  and  knew  how  to  make  use  of  intrigue  and 
boldness  at  the  proper  time;  the  sequel  will  prove 
it. 

The  Regent,  offended  at  the  insolence  of 
Alberoni  with  regard  to  de  Louville  and  still  more 
indignant  to  see  to  what  extent  the  King  of  Spain 
was  under  the  subjection  of  an  audacious  minister, 
flattered  himself  to  draw  this  prince  from  his 
lethargy,  by  writing  him  personally.  The  letter 


8o     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

was  strong :  the  difficulty  was  to  make  it  reach  its 
destination  without  Alberoni's  knowledge.  The 
Regent  requested  Father  du  Trevoux  to  send  it 
to  Father  d'Aubenton,  who  was  to  deliver  it  to 
the  King  only.  D'Aubenton  received  it;  but  hav- 
ing already  been  almost  ruined  for  having  done 
just  such  a  thing  for  the  pope,  he  took  the  letter 
to  the  minister.  o 

Alberoni  felt  the  effect  that  the  letter  might 
have  produced  on  the  King's  mind,  had  he  received 
it  without  being  prepared  for  it.  He  consulted 
with  the  Queen  and  began  by  writing  to  Monti, 
who  was  then  in  Paris,  a  letter  which  he  requested 
him  to  show  to  the  Regent.  In  it  he  said  that 
the  King  was  much  displeased  with  the  one  which 
d'Aubenton  had  delivered,  as  would  be  seen  by 
'  the  reply.  Then,  so  as  to  insult  the  Regent  under 
the  name  of.  others,  he  vowed  infinite  respect  and 
attachment  to  that  prince  and  added  that  he  was 
in  despair  at  all  he.  heard  reported  in  Madrid  by 
the  foreign  ministers;  namely,  that  the  Regent's 
sole  ambition-  was  to  assure  to  himself  the  throne 
of  France;  that,  as  soon  as  his  plans  were  per- 
fected, the  person  of  the  King  would  not  be  in  his 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      81 

way,  and  that  this  was  the  opinion  of  all  Europe. 

Alberoni,  in  accord  with  the  Queen,  managed 
to  suggest  to  the  King  a  confirmatory  reply  of 
the  letter  written  to  Monti;  and  this  was  no  diffi- 
cult matter. 

The  continued  retirement  in  which  Philip  V 
lived  for  a  long  time  and  his  excesses  with  the 
Queen  had  caused  him  to  sink  into  a  condition 
which  out  of  respect  was  called  vapours,  and  which 
soon  deserved  another  name,  at  least  from  those 
of  the  inner  circle. 

The  Queen  and  Alberoni  took  advantage  of  a 
favourable  moment  to  speak  to  him  of  the 
Regent's  letter,  and  only  had  to  repeat  against 
that  prince  what  they  made  the  foreigner  say  in 
the  letter  to  Monti;  that  touched  the  sensitive 
spot.  The  Queen  added  that  an  enlightened 
King,  as  absolute  as  he  was,  should  not  tolerate 
that  a  Regent  of  France  undertook  to  meddle 
with  the  government  of  Spain,  and  that,  to  im- 
pose silence  on  him,  it  would  suffice  that  the  King 
reply  that  all  was  done  by  his  orders  and  that  he 
wished  to  be  master  at  home. 

Nothing  so  much  flatters  a  weak  man  and  keeps 


82      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

him  better  in  that  state  of  weakness  than  the 
praise  bestowed  on  his  firmness.  Philip  therefore 
wrote  the  letter  as  Alberoni  had  dictated  it  to  the 
Queen,  who  took  care  to  cause  to  be  added  to  it 
all  possible  praise  of  his  minister. 

Alberoni,  delivered  of  his  anxiety  as  regards 
France,  busied  himself  solely  with  his  promotion 
to  the  cardinalship.  The  pope  wished  to  urge 
Alberoni,  by  the  prospect  of  the  hat,  to  settle  to 
the  advantage  of  Rome  the  differences  of  that 
Court  with  that  of  Spain,  fully  resolved  after  that 
to  make  use  of  shift.  But  Alberoni,  too  much  of 
a  knave  himself  not  to  be  suspicious  of  others,  was 
fully  determined  not  to  grant  anything,  unless  he 
were  appointed,  subject,  after  that  to  evade  his 
promises.  This  contest  of  distrust  and  intrigue 
lasted  a  long  time;  but  as  it  is  foreign  to  these 
memoirs,  I  shall  not  dwell  upon  them. 

The  Regent  saw  clearly,  by  the  obsession  of  the 
King  of  Spain,  that  there  was  nothing  to  expect 
from  him,  and  only  thought  to  conclude  with 
England  a  treaty  which,  owing  to  the  misunder- 
standing of  France  and  Spain,  became  a  necessity. 

Abbe    Dubois   went   to    meet    Stanhope,    King 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     83 

George's  minister,  at  The  Hague.  The  articles 
were  decided  between  them  by  the  end  of  Novem- 
ber, but  it  was  agreed  to  keep  the  treaty  secret, 
so  as  to  give  time  to  the  Dutch  to  come  to  a  de- 
cision and  consent  to  it. 

During  the  night  from  the  ist  to  the  2nd  of 
February,  Chancellor  Voisin  died  suddenly.  The 
Regent  having  heard  of  it  on  arising  sent  for 
Attorney-General  d'Aguesseau,  who  was  at  mass. 
On  his  reply  that  he  would  go  after  the  service, 
the  Regent  was  obliged  to  send  him  an  order  to 
come  at  once  to  the  Palais-Royal.  While  these 
messages  were  going  back  and  forth,  La  Roche- 
pot,  Vaubourg  and  Trudaine,  State  councilors,  the 
first,  the  son-in-law,  and  the  other  two,  brothers- 
in-law  of  Voisin,  brought  the  casket  of  the  seals. 
As  soon  as  d'Aguesseau  had  arrived,  the  Regent 
presented  him  to  the  crowd  which  curiosity  had 
attracted  to  the  apartment:  "You  see,"  said  he, 
"  a  new  and  worthy  chancellor."  He  at  once 
made  him  enter  a  coach  with  him,  took  him  to 
the  Tuileries  to  present  his  respects  to  the  King, 
who,  instructed  by  the  Regent,  laid  his  hand  on 
the  casket  and  gave  it  to  d'Aguesseau. 


84     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  chancellor  returned  at  once  to  his  resi- 
dence and  entered  the  apartment  of  his  brother, 
d'Aguesseau  de  Valjouan.  The  latter,  a  man  of 
much  wit  and  knowledge,  but  lazy,  voluptuous, 
eccentric,  and  quite  indifferent  to  all  events,  was 
still  in  his  dressing-gown  quietly  smoking  his  pipe 
near  the  fire.  u  Brother,"  said  d'Aguesseau  to 
him,  "  I  come  to  announce  a  piece  of  news  which 
will  please  you;  I  am  chancellor." 

"  You,  chancellor !  "  said  Valjouan  coldly,  with- 
out even  moving:  "  what  have  you  done  with  the 
other?" 

"  He  died  suddenly  and  the  King  has  appointed 
me  to  succeed  him." 

"  Well !  brother,  I  am  very  glad  of  it,"  con- 
tinued Valjouan ;  "  I  had  much  rather  that  it 
should  be  you  than  I,"  and  he  continued  to  smoke 
his  pipe. 

On  the  same  day  the  office  of  Attorney-General 
was  given  to  Joly  de  Fleury,  first  advocate  gen- 
eral. These  two  selections  were  the  more  ap- 
plauded as  no  one  was  in  a  position  to  be  jealous 
of  them. 

I  shall  not  dwell  upon  the  merits  of  the  new 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     85 

chancellor.  His  eulogy  which  I  had  delivered 
in  my  address  for  the  prize  of  the  Academic 
Franchise,  is  in  everyone's  hands;  but  in  the  in- 
terest of  truth  I  am  obliged  to  say  that  he  has 
been  accused  of  excessive  partiality  for  the  long 
robe.  He  has  screened  guilty  judges  from  punish- 
ment, so  as  not  to  bring  the  bench  into  disrepute. 

The  Due  de  Grammont,  the  elder,  asking  him 
one  day  whether  there  was  not  a  way  of  cutting 
down  proceedings  and  reducing  expenses :  "  I  have 
often  thought  of  it,"  said  the  chancellor;  "  I  had 
even  begun  a  regulation  on  the  subject,  but  I  was 
stopped  by  the  thought  of  the  number  of  advo- 
cates, attorneys  and  bailiffs  whom  I  was  going 
to  ruin."  What  a  reply  for  a  statesman  to  make! 

His  taste  for  science  and  belles-lettres  took  up 
much  of  his  time,  to  the  detriment  of  his  conduct 
of  affairs.  He  might  also  be  charged  with  irreso- 
lution, acquired,  either  through  having  excessively 
practiced  the  pro  and  con  at  the  bar  of  justice,  or 
through  his  over  abundance  of  learning,  which 
dazzled  him  at  times  instead  of  enlightening  him. 

Comte  de  Cereste-Brancas,  soldier  councilor  of 
State  and  friend  of  the  chancellor,  told  me  that 


86     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

he  one  day  spoke  to  him  of  the  slowness  of  his 
decisions.  "  When  I  consider,"  replied  the  mag- 
istrate, "  that  a  chancellor's  decision  is  a  law,  I 
have  a  right  to  reflect  on  it  long." 

The  Regent,  after  having  so  well  disposed  of 
the  office  of  chancellor  and  of  that  of  attorney- 
general,  bestowed  a  multitude  of  favours  which 
were  not  so  much  approved. 

Princes  would  be  too  happy  if  they  had  only 
to  concern  themselves  with  politics  and  the  tem- 
poral government  of  the  State.  Unfortunately, 
Church  affairs  always  mingle  with  them;  and  as 
they  are  usually  a  tissue  of  manoeuvres,  bickerings 
and  intrigues,  they  cause  princes  more  trouble 
than  the  most  thorny  negotiations  with  foreign 
powers.  The  affair  of  the  constitution  was  pre- 
cisely one  of  those  cases;  and  the  Regent,  who  was 
working  to  strengthen  peace  without,  desired  tran- 
quillity within  the  kingdom. 

After  having  placed  Cardinal  de  Noailles  at 
the  head  of  the  council  of  conscience,  removed 
from  office  Cardinal  Bissy  and  his  cabal,  driven 
some  Jesuits  from  Court,  exiled  from  Paris  Tellier, 
Daucin  and  the  other  mischief  makers  of  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     87 

society,  there  was  nothing  else  to  do  than  to  allow 
the  Parliaments  to  act  supported  by  the  Sorbonne, 
the  universities,  the  curates,  always  respected  by 
the  people  and  the  honest  bourgeoisie. 

The  secular  and  regular  societies,  the  most  dis- 
tinguished in  letters  and  by  their  establishments, 
declared  themselves  loudly  in  favour  of  Cardinal 
de  Noailles.  Although  he  had  not  opposed  the 
destruction  of  Port-Royal,  the  hatred  against  the 
Jesuits,  the  opposition  to  the  Court  of  Rome  had 
brought  back  to  him  the  Jansenists,  among  whom 
there  were  still  some  at  that  time  of  distinguished 
reputation. 

It  would  not  have  cost  the  Regent  much,  in- 
different as  he  was  on  the  question  of  dogma,  to 
display  a  peaceful  neutrality.  The  pope  would 
have  complained,  the  nuncio  would  have  cried  out. 
Nothing  easier  than  to  impose  silence  on  the  lat- 
ter or  have  him  recalled.  As  to  the  pope,  the 
Regent  could  write  to  him  in  that  tone  of  respect 
for  his  person,  with  which  he  could  still  make  him 
feel  the  firmness  of  a  mind  made  up.  Clement 
XI  would  certainly  have  supplied  the  explanations 
asked  for  about  the  bull  or  it  would  have  im- 


88     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

perceptibly  fallen  into  oblivion  like  so  many 
others. 

If,  through  what  I  have  stated,  I  were  suspected 
of  Jansenism,  those  who  did  suspect  me  would 
be  much  mistaken.  The  Jansenists  of  to-day  do 
not  recall  to  mind  the  idea  of  Port-Royal,  and 
it  would  not  be  desirable  to  have  them  get  the 
upper  hand.  Whatever  may  be  the  constitution 
at  bottom,  it  is  so  generally  accepted  that  it  must 
be  looked  upon  as  good  for  the  tranquillity  of 
the  government.  The  far-off  consequences  which 
the  popes  might  draw  from  them  for  their  pre- 
tensions, would  not  go  into  effect.  Henceforth  the 
Court  of  Rome  will  not  risk  those  acts  which  a 
portion  of  Europe  has  repelled  only  by  separating 
itself  from  the  Church. 

The  Regent,  in  trying  to  conciliate  the  two 
parties  which  divided  it,  was  unable  to  keep  either 
in  check.  That  of  the  constitution  went  so  far 
as  to  have  it  declared  a  rule  of  faith  by  a  number 
of  prelates.  Immediately  four  bishops  of  la 
Sorbonne  issued  their  appeal  to  the  future  as- 
sembly of  prelates  and  doctors.  If  Cardinal  de 
Noailles  had  then  caused  his  to  be  issued,  almost 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY      89 

all  the  bodies  of  the  kingdom  would  have  fol- 
lowed him.  He  temporised  and  lost  all  advan- 
tages. 

The  Regent,  piqued  by  the  sensation  of  this 
appeal,  at  a  time  when  conferences  to  find  com- 
promises were  being  held  at  the  Palais-Royal, 
caused  orders  to  be  given  to  the  four  bishops  to 
retire  to  their  dioceses.  Ravachet  syndic  de  Sor- 
bonne  was  exiled  to  Saint-Brieuc,  but  on  his  way 
there,  he  died  in  Rennes  at  the  Benedictines,  where 
he  is  buried. 

During  the  war  of  the  constitution,  the  princes 
of  the  blood  energetically  pushed  the  one  they 
had  declared  against  the  legitimated  princes, 
whom  they  wanted  also  to  lose  the  intermediate 
rank  granted  by  the  edict  of  1694. 

The  Regent  did  not  visibly  take  sides  with  the 
princes  of  the  blood:  first  so  as  not  to  offend  the 
Duchesse  d'Orleans,  his  wife,  sister  of  the  legiti- 
mated; second  so  as  not  to  appear  judge  and 
party  in  an  affair  which  would  be  brought  to  the 
tribunal  of  the  regency. 

The  Duchesse  du  Maine,  princess  of  the  blood 
herself,  furious  at  seeing  the  rank  of  her  husband 


90      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

and  children  attacked,  had  recourse  to  all  the 
means  which  so  dear  an  interest  could  suggest  to 
her.  It  seems  that  she  should  have  directed  all 
her  efforts  against  the  request  of  the  princes  of 
the  blood,  because  if  that  rank  were  continued 
to  her  husband,  the  demand  of  the  dukes  collapsed 
of  its  own  accord.  But  as  she  feared  to  fail  in 
her  defence  against  the  princes,  she  forgot  nothing 
which  might  delay  the  judgment.  Besides,  if  she 
was  grieved  at  the  action  of  the  princes,  she  con- 
sidered herself  insulted  in  the  claims  of  the  dukes 
in  favour  of  the  fatherland.  She  therefore 
thought  to  raise  enemies  who  might  avenge  her, 
by  attacking  them  themselves. 

She  gave  a  certain  number  of  nobles  to  un- 
derstand that  the  dukes  had  made  pretensions 
offensive  to  the  nobility,  from  which  they  wished 
to  separate  and  form  among  themselves  a  distinct 
body.  These  noblemen  easily  caught  fire,  and 
spread  the  alarm;  their  numbers  soon  increased; 
everyone  hastened  to  join  them;  the  principals, 
out  of  jealousy  of  the  dukes;  the  others,  to  show 
themselves  as  nobles;  there  were  some  among 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     91 

them  whom  the  bourgeoisie  could  have  claimed 
as. her  own. 

The  Grand  Prior  de  Vendome  persuaded  the 
Knights  of  Malta  who  were  in  Paris,  to  enter  the 
league.  The  Bailiff  de  Mesmes,  ambassador  of 
religion  and  brother  to  the  premier  president, 
co-operated  in  the  wishes  of  the  grand  prior  and 
was  quietly  instigated  by  the  premier  president,  a 
great  enemy  of  the  dukes,  and  secretly  allied  with 
the  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine. 

Six  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  this 
confederation  presented  to  the  Regent  a  memorial 
against  the  dukes.  The  Regent  received  them 
very  coldly,  told  them  he  considered  such  a  gath- 
ering very  bad,  refused  the  memorial,  and  forbade 
all  Knights  of  Malta  to  meet  except  for  matters 
relating  to  their  order;  and  a  decree  from  the 
regency  council  forbade  all  associations  of  noble- 
men, and  the  signing  of  any  request  in  common, 
under  penalty  of  disobedience. 

Several  noblemen  of  the  league  were  not  over 
careful  to  conceal  their  anger;  Bauffremont  said 
loudly  that  he  wished  to  destroy  the  dukes  be- 


92      SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

cause  he  himself  was  not  one.  We  have  since 
then  seen  the  Marquis  de  Chatillon,  having  be- 
come duke,  wax  enthusiastic  at  that  title.  In  the 
meantime  the  princes  of  the  blood  continued  their 
action  against  the  legitimated. 

The  Regent  might  perhaps  have  evaded  the 
decision  out  of  consideration  for  his  wife;  but  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine,  carried  away  by  passion, 
caused  her  husband  to  take  a  step  which  injured 
him  very  much.  He  presumed  to  tell  the  Regent 
that  this  affair  being  one  of  State,  could  only  be 
judged  by  a  King  of  age,  or  even  by  the  States- 
generals. 

The  Regent  felt  what  a  blow  such  a  preten- 
sion struck  at  his  authority:  first  it  is  a  maxim 
that  the  King  is  always  of  age,  as  to  justice; 
second,  what  had  been  done  without  the  inter- 
vention of  the  States-generals  could  be  undone 
without  their  assistance.  Consequently,  there 
was  rendered,  on  the  6th  of  June,  a  decree  of  the 
regency  council  which  appointed  six  State  coun- 
cilors to  receive  the  memorials  from  the  princes  of 
the  blood  and  the  legitimated  respectively  and  to 
make  a  report  of  them  to  the  council. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     93 

The  Duchesse  du  Maine,  dismayed  at  the  ill 
success  of  her  measure,  persuaded  thirty-nine 
noblemen  that  they  could  stipulate  for  the  body 
of  the  nobility,  and  induced  them  to  present  to 
the  Parliament  a  request  asking  that  an  affair 
which  concerned  the  succession  of  the  crown  be 
referred  to  the  States-generals. 

It  was  at  least  to  the  King  alone  to  whom  they 
should  have  applied  had  they  had  mission  from 
the  order  of  nobility.  It  was  besides  rather  sin- 
gular to  see  an  order  which  classes  the  Parliament 
in  the  same  rank  as  the  Tiers-Etat,  head  its  re- 
quest :  "  To  our  lords  of  the  Parliament,  beg,  etc." 
The  premier  president  and  the  King's  people 
brought  it  to  the  Regent,  who  caused  the  six  prin- 
cipal noblemen  to  be  sent  to  the  Bastille  or  to 
Vincennes. 

The  Regent  at  once  resolved  to  have  the  affair 
tried  by  the  council.  The  princes  of  the  blood, 
the  legitimated  and  the  dukes  were  excluded  as 
interested  parties.  The  Archbishop  of  Bordeaux, 
d'Huxelles,  Biron  and  Beringhen  took  their 
places.  Saint-Contest  read  the  report  and  on 
the  ist  of  July  the  regency  council  rendered  a 


94     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

decree  in  the  form  of  an  edict  which  revokes  and 
declares  void  that  of  1714  and  the  declaration  of 
1715,  and  declares  the  Due  du  Maine  and  the 
Comte  de  Toulouse  unqualified  to  succeed  to  the 
crown,  deprives  them  of  the  rank  of  princes  of 
the  blood,  and  only  leaves  to  them  its  honours 
during  their  lifetime,  in  view  of  the  long  posses- 
sion. This  edict  was  registered  in  the  Parliament 
on  the  8th  of  July. 

The  honours  have  since  then  been  continued  to 
the  two  sons  of  the  Due  du  Maine,  granted  to  the 
Due  de  Penthievre,  son  of  the  Comte  de  Toulouse, 
and  have  passed  on  to  the  Comte  de  Lamballe,  son 
of  the  Due  de  Penthievre. 

In  reporting  that  which  concerns  the  affair  of 
the  legitimated,  I  have  specially  named  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine,  because  she  was  the  soul  of 
the  entire  affair.  The  Due  du  Maine,  in  despair 
at  his  downfall,  but  naturally  timid,  obeyed  his 
wife's  every  passion.  The  Comte  de  Toulouse 
joined  his  brother  in  the  defence  of  their  position, 
but  he  took  part  in  none  of  the  Duchesse  du 
Maine's  intrigues.  He  had  shared  his  brother's 
rank  without  having  solicited  it;  he  foresaw  its 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     95 

lack  of  stability,  and  appeared  neither  humiliated 
nor  grieved  at  the  change  in  his  state. 

As  to  the  Duchesse  du  Maine,  wild  and  blind 
with  fury,  she  only  busied  herself  with  projects 
of  vengeance  against  the  Regent,  and  maintained 
secret  correspondence  with  that  portion  of  the 
nobility  which  she  had  already  excited.  We  shall 
soon  see  her  form  a  badly  organised  conspiracy 
which  proved  fatal  to  several  noblemen  and  which 
was  almost  the  undoing  of  the  Due  du  Maine. 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  affairs  with  which  the 
Regent  was  occupied,  he  was  obliged  to  give  his 
attention  to  the  reception  of  the  Czar,  Peter  the 
First,  who  came  to  Paris  that  year. 

The  rank  and  personal  merit  of  the  Czar  re- 
quire that  I  give  a  sort  of  abridged  journal 
of  his  arrival  and  of  his  sojourn.  The  Czar 
reached  the  Louvre  at  9  o'clock  at  night,  and  was 
taken  to  the  Queen's  apartment,  which  was 
lighted  up  and  furnished  superbly.  He  found  it 
too  handsome,  asked  for  a  private  house  and  at 
once  re-entered  his  coach.  He  was  driven  to  the 
de  Lesdiguiere's  residence,  close  to  the  Arsenal. 
As  its  furnishings  were  no  less  magnificent,  he 


96     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

saw  that  he  had  to  make  up  his  mind  in  the  mat- 
ter. He  caused  to  be  taken  from  a  baggage 
wagon  which  followed  him,  a  field-bed  and  had 
it  set  up  in  a  closet. 

Verton,  one  of  the  stewards  of  the  King's 
residence,  was  charged  with  the  maintenance 
morning  and  evening,  for  the  prince,  of  a  table 
of  forty  covers,  without  counting  those  of  the 
officers  and  servants.  Marshal  de  Tesse  had 
command  of  the  entire  household  and  was  to  ac- 
company the  Czar  everywhere  with  a  detachment 
of  gardes  du  corps. 

This  prince  was  tall,  very  well  proportioned, 
rather  thin,  dark  of  complexion;  his  eyes  were 
large  and  bright,  his  glance  piercing  and  at  times 
fierce,  especially  when  his  face  had  a  sort  of  con- 
vulsive twitch  which  distorted  his  entire  physi- 
ognomy. This  habit  was  the  result  of  poison 
given  him  in  his  childhood,  but  when  he  wished  to 
greet  someone,  his  face  took  on  a  laughing  aspect, 
and  did  not  lack  charm,  although  he  still  retained 
some  little  sarmatian  majesty. 

His  quick  and  brusk  movements  revealed  the 
impetuosity  of  his  character  and  the  violence  of 


PETER  THE  GREAT 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     97 

his  passions.  Nothing  hindered  the  activity  of 
his  mind,  and  an  air  of  grandeur  mingled  with 
audacity  announced  a  prince  who  felt  himself  a 
master  everywhere. 

The  habit  of  despotism  was  such  that  his  com- 
mands, his  wishes,  his  fancies  succeeded  one  an- 
other rapidly  and  could  not  bear  the  least  obstacle 
of  time,  place  or  circumstance.  Sometimes,  im- 
portuned by  the  affluence  of  spectators,  but  never 
embarrassed,  he  dismissed  them  with  a  word,  a 
gesture,  or  left  on  the  instant  to  go  where  his 
curiosity  led  him. 

If  his  equipages  were  not  ready,  he  entered  the 
first  carriage  he  found,  were  it  a  public  conveyance. 
He  one  day  took  the  coach  of  the  Marechale  de 
Matignon,  who  had  come  to  see  him,  and  caused 
himself  to  be  driven  to  Boulogne;  on  such  occasions 
Marshal  Tesse  and  the  guards  ran  as  best  they 
could  to  follow  him.  Two  or  three  such  adven- 
tures made  it  necessary  after  that  to  always  have 
coaches  and  horses  ready  for  him. 

However  little  conscious  he  appeared  of  the 
etiquette  of  his  rank,  there  were  occasions  when 
he  did  not  neglect  it:  he  showed  sometimes,  by 


98     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

rather  fine  shades,  the  distinction  of  dignities  and 
of  persons.     Here  are  some  examples : 

Although  most  impatient  to  see  the  city,  from 
the  moment  of  his  arrival,  he  refused  to  leave  his 
apartment  until  he  had  received  the  King's  first 
visit.  The  day  after  the  Czar's  arrival,  the 
Regent  called  on  him.  The  Czar  came  out  of 
his  study,  took  a  few  steps  towards  the  Regent, 
embraced  him,  then  pointing  to  the  door  of  the 
closet  with  his  hand,  he  immediately  turned  and 
walked  ahead,  followed  by  the  Regent,  then  by 
Prince  Kurakin,  who  acted  as  interpreter.  There 
were  two  arm-chairs,  the  first  of  which  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Czar;  Kurakin  remained  standing. 
After  a  half-hour's  conversation,  the  Czar  arose, 
and  stopped  where  he  had  received  the  Regent 
who,  on  withdrawing,  made  a  deep  bow,  to  which 
the  Czar  replied  by  a  nod. 

On  Monday,  May  roth,  the  King  came  to 
make  his  call.  The  Czar  came  down  to  the 
courtyard,  received  the  King  at  the  coach  door, 
and  both,  walking  side  by  side,  the  King  on  the 
right,  entered  the  apartment  where  the  Czar  of- 
fered the  first  arm-chair,  giving  way  in  everything. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     99 

After  being  seated  a  few  moments,  the  Czar 
arose,  took  the  King  in  his  arms,  and  embraced 
him  several  times,  his  eyes  moist,  and  with  the 
most  marked  transports  of  tenderness.  The  King, 
though  a  child,  was  not  in  the  least  astonished, 
made  a  little  compliment  and  submitted  to  the 
Czar's  caresses  with  good  grace.  On  leaving, 
the  two  princes  repeated  the  same  ceremonial  as 
on  the  arrival.  The  Czar,  while  giving  the 
King  precedence  to  the  coach,  continued  to  main- 
tain his  bearing  of  equality,  and  if  he  permitted 
himself  at  moments  and  perhaps  designedly,  a  sort 
of  superiority  which  age  may  give,  he  was  careful 
to  conceal  it  by  his  caresses  and  his  demonstra- 
tions of  affection  for  the  child,  whom  he  took  in 
his  arms. 

The  next  day,  the  nth,  the  Czar  returned  the 
King's  visit.  He  would  have  been  received  at 
the  coach  step,  but  as  soon  as  he  perceived  under 
the  vestibule  of  the  Tuileries,  the  King  walking 
towards  him,  he  jumped  from  the  coach,  ran  to 
meet  the  King,  took  him  in  his  arms,  thus  mounted 
the  stairs  and  carried  him  to  the  apartment. 
Everything  took  place  exactly  as  the  evening  be- 


ioo     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

lore,  with  the  exception  of  the  precedence  which 
the  King  gave  to  the  Czar. 

As  soon  as  he  had  received  the  King's  visit, 
the  Czar  went  about  Paris  incessantly,  entering 
the  stores  and  workshops,  stopping  before  every- 
thing which  attracted  his  attention,  questioning 
the  artists  by  means  of  Kurakin,  and  everywhere 
giving  evidence  of  his  enlightenment  and  knowl- 
edge. Things  of  taste  and  adornment  interested 
him  but  little;  but  all  that  was  useful,  relating  to 
the  navy,  commerce,  the  necessary  arts,  excited  his 
curiosity,  attracted  his  attention,  caused  admira- 
tion for  the  wisdom  of  a  mind  broad,  just  and 
as  prompt  to  learn  as  it  was  eager  to  know.  He 
only  glanced  at  the  diamonds  of  the  crown  which 
were  displayed  before  him,  but  he  admired  the 
works  of  the  Gobelin  factories,  went  twice  to  the 
Observatory,  lingered  long  at  the  Jardin  des 
Plantes,  examined  the  machine  room  and  talked 
with  the  carpenters  who  were  building  the  swing- 
bridge. 

One  easily  imagines  that  such  a  prince  was  not 
over-particular  in  his  dress.  A  suit  of  barracan 
or  broad-cloth,  a  wide  belt  from  which  a  sabre 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    ice 

hung,  a  round  wig,  without  powder,  which  did  not 
pass  the  neck,  a  shirt  without  cuffs,  such  was  his 
outfit. 

He  had  ordered  a  wig.  The  wigmaker  not 
doubting  that  he  wanted  one  in  fashion  which  was 
then  to  wear  them  long  and  thick.  The  Czar  had 
it  clipped  all  around,  to  reduce  it  to  the  shape  of 
the  one  he  wore. 

Madame,  mother  of  the  Regent,  the  Duchesse 
de  Berri,  and  the  Duchesse  d'Orleans  had  ex- 
pected to  receive  the  visit  of  the  Czar  as  soon  as 
he  had  returned  the  King's,  but  not  hearing  any- 
thing about  the  matter,  they  each  sent  him  their 
chief  equerry  to  present  their  compliments.  The 
Czar  then  went  to  see  them  in  the  order  I  men- 
tioned, and  he  was  received  as  the  King  would 
have  been. 

The  day  he  called  on  Madame,  Friday  the  I4th, 
the  Regent  joined  him  there,  and  took  him  to  the 
Opera,  in  the  great  box,  and  both  sat  alone  on  the 
same  bench.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  per- 
formance, the  Czar  asked  for  beer:  the  Regent 
had  some  brought  at  once,  arose,  presenting  a 
goblet  on  a  saucer,  and  then  a  napkin.  The 


102     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Czar  drank  without  rising,  returned  the  goblet 
and  the  napkin  to  the  Regent,  who  was  still 
standing,  and  thanked  him  by  a  smile  and  a  nod. 
He  left  the  Opera  at  the  fourth  act  to  go  to 
supper. 

He  dined  at  eleven  o'clock  and  had  his  supper 
at  eight  o'clock.  The  amount  of  his  expenses  was 
i, 800  livres  a  day.  He  was  always  splendidly 
served  although  he  had  ordered  curtailments  the 
very  first  day.  It  was  not  on  account  of  sobriety; 
he  was  fond  of  the  table  and  only  wished  to  sup- 
press its  luxury.  He  ate  excessively  at  dinner  and 
at  supper,  drank  two  bottles  of  wine  at  each  meal, 
and  usually  one  of  liqueur  at  dessert,  without 
counting  the  beer  and  the  lemonade  which  he  had 
between  meals.  Several  of  his  officers  coped  with 
him  in  this  and  among  them,  his  almoner,  whom  he 
liked  and  esteemed  greatly  for  that  reason.  He 
at  times  gave  himself  up  to  excesses  with  these 
men  whose  consequences  were  best  passed  in 
silence. 

The  Czar  made  a  private  visit  to  the  Regent, 
but  he  made  none  to  any  member  of  the  royal 
house,  prince  or  princess,  other  than  the  three  I 


have  just  named.  He  had  been  told  that  the 
princes  of  the  blood  would  call  on  him,  if  he 
promised  to  go  and  see  the  princesses  afterwards. 
He  refused  with  haughtiness  this  conditional  visit, 
and  it  was  not  again  mentioned. 

If  the  State  visits,  the  plays  and  the  fetes  in- 
terested him  but  little,  it  was  not  the  same  with 
things  which  could  improve  him.  On  the  same 
day  that  he  went  to  the  Opera,  he  had  spent  the 
entire  morning  in  the  gallery  of  plans,  conducted 
by  Marshal  de  Villars  and  followed  by  the  gen- 
eral officers  who  happened  to  be  in  Paris.  The 
marshal  also  accompanied  him  to  the  Invalides, 
on  the  1 6th,  Whitsunday.  The  Czar  asked  to 
see  everything  there,  examine  everything  and 
ended  by  visiting  the  refectory,  where  he  asked 
for  a  drink  of  the  soldiers'  wine,  drank  to  their 
health,  treating  them  as  comrades,  and  slapping 
the  shoulders  of  those  nearest  him. 

He  noticed  among  the  spectators  the  Marechale 
de  Villars,  whose  face  was  a  striking  one:  he 
learned  who  she  was  and  greeted  her  specially. 

Marshal  d'Estrees  invited  him  to  dine  at  his 
house  at  Issy,  Tuesday  the  i8th,  and  pleased  him 


104    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

much  by  the  charts  and  naval  plans  which  he 
showed  him. 

The  Czar,  calling  at  the  Tuileries  on  the  24th, 
entered  the  apartment  of  Marshal  de  Villeroi, 
where  the  King  came  as  if  by  chance.  All  cere- 
monial was  then  omitted  and  the  Czar  again  gave 
himself  up  to  the  liveliest  transports  of  affection. 
That  same  evening,  he  went  to  Versailles  and  spent 
three  days  visiting  the  chateau,  the  menagerie, 
Trianon,  Marly,  and  specially  the  machine,  more 
interesting  then  than  it  is  to-day  that  the  mechan- 
ism is  more  perfected. 

He  slept  at  Trianon,  where  his  officers  had 
brought  girls,  in  Mme.  de  Maintenon's  apartment, 
an  act  which  Blouin,  the  favourite's  old  servant, 
looked  upon  as  a  profanation.  These  morals 
were,  in  fact,  in  singular  contrast  with  the  last 
years  of  Louis  XIV.  It  has  been  claimed  that  the 
Czar  and  his  officers  had  reason  to  remember  the 
company  they  had  taken  with  them. 

On  the  3Oth  of  May,  he  went  to  dine  at  Petit- 
Bourg,  with  the  Due  d'Antin,  who  on  the  same  day. 
took  him  to  Fontainebleau,  where  the  Comte  de 
Toulouse  next  day  gave  him  the  pleasure  of  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     10$ 

chase.  On  returning,  the  Czar  insisted  upon  eat- 
ing alone  with  his  own  retinue,  on  the  island  of 
FEtang.  The  Comte  de  Toulouse  and  the  Due 
d'Antin  must  have  been  grateful  to  the  Czar  for 
having  excluded  them.  The  Czar  and  his  retinue 
had  to  be  carried  to  their  coaches  to  return  to 
Petit-Bourg,  which  they  reached  in  a  most  disgust- 
ing condition. 

On  Tuesday,  June  ist,  the  fumes  of  the  evening 
before  having  vanished,  the  Czar  embarked  on 
the  Seine  to  go  down  to  Paris.  He  stopped  at 
Choisy,  where  the  dowager  Princesse  de  Conti  re- 
ceived him.  After  having  visited  the  gardens,  he 
again  entered  his  gondola,  went  through  Paris, 
passing  under  all  the  bridges,  and  landed  below 
the  Porte  de  la  Conference. 

On  the  3rd,  he  returned  to  spend  a  few  days 
at  Versailles,  at  Marly,  at  Trianon,  which  he 
wanted  to  see  more  thoroughly.  On  the  nth,  he 
went  to  Saint-Cyr,  saw  all  the  classes,  had  the  ex- 
ercises of  the  pupils  explained  to  him,  and  then 
went  up  to  the  room  of  Mme.  de  Maintenon  who, 
having  foreseen  the  visit,  had  gone  to  bed. 

The  Czar,  on  entering,  drew  the  curtain  of  the 


106    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

windows,  then  those  of  the  bed,  looked  at  her 
attentively,  and  went  out  without  saying  a  word 
and  without  doing  her  the  slightest  act  of  polite- 
ness. 

Mme.  de  Maintenon  was  to  say  the  least 
astonished  at  so  strange  a  visit  and  must  have  felt 
the  difference  of  the  times. 

The  day  he  went  to  the  Sorbonne,  he  showed 
more  consideration  to  the  statue  of  Cardinal  de 
Richelieu  than  he  had  shown  to  the  person  of 
Mme.  de  Maintenon. 

As  soon  as  he  saw  the  tomb  of  the  cardinal,  he 
ran  to  embrace  the  figure  of  that  minister,  address- 
ing these  words  to  it:  "I  would  give  one-half  of 
my  empire  to  such  a  man  as  you  that  he  might  aid 
me  in  governing  the  other  half." 

The  Czar  went  to  dine  on  the  I5th,  at  the  Due 
d'Antin's.  Mme.  la  duchesse  went  there  with  the 
princesses,  her  daughters,  to  see  him  once  at  least 
before  his  departure.  The  Due  d'Antin,  wishing 
to  satisfy  their  curiosity,  invited  the  Czar  to  take 
a  stroll  in  the  garden  and  led  him  in  front  of  the 
ground-floor  apartments,  where  the  princesses  and 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     107 

their  attendants  were  at  the  windows.  On  ap-' 
preaching  them,  the  Czar  was  told  that  Mme.  la 
duchesse  was  there  and  of  the  desire  she  had  to 
see  him.  He  replied  not  a  word,  did  not  even  ask 
which  one  she  was,  walked  slowly,  looked  at  them 
all,  bowed  to  them  in  general  with  a  nod  and 
passed  on. 

The  Czar,  on  entering  the  dining-room,  was 
surprised  on  seeing  under  a  canopy  the  portrait  of 
the  Czarina  which  the  Due  d'Antin  had  found 
some  way  of  procuring.  This  gallantry  pleased 
him  so  much  that  he  exclaimed  that  only  French- 
men could  be  capable  of  such  an  act.  He  soon 
experienced  another,  and  a  more  striking  one, 
which  I  shall  report  under  its  date. 

On  the  1 6th,  he  saw  the  review  of  the  Maison 
du  Roi.  The  magnificence  of  the  uniforms  seemed 
to  displease  him.  Without  awaiting  the  end,  he 
left  suddenly,  and  at  a  gallop,  went  to  Saint- 
Ouen,  where  he  had  supper  with  the  Due  de 
Tresmes. 

The  Czar  spoke  Latin  and  German  with  ease; 
he  could  have  made  himself  understood  in  French, 


108    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

which  he  knew  fairly  well,  and  he  was  suspected 
of  making  use  of  an  interpreter  for  the  sake  of 
dignity. 

On  the  1 8th,  he  received  the  Regent's  last  visit 
and  went  to  take  leave  of  the  King,  who,  the 
next  day,  came  to  say  good-bye  to  him.  No  cere- 
monial was  observed,  but  the  same  effusion  and 
affection  were  noticeable  in  the  Czar. 

On  the  same  day,  he  witnessed  from  a  gallery 
of  the  higher  court,  the  trial  of  a  case.  The  ad- 
vocate-general, Lamoignon,  to-day  chancellor,  in 
summing  up,  spoke  of  the  honour  which  the  Court 
received  on  that  day  and  had  it  recorded. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Czar  attended  a  meeting 
of  the  Academic  des  Sciences,  and  then  another  of 
that  of  Belles-Lettres,  called  in  special  session. 
These  two  societies  interested  him  each  in  its  way. 
He  sat  at  both  and  requested  the  academicians  to 
be  seated. 

The  compliment  paid  him  and  which  I  have 
mentioned  before  was  at  the  medal  Mint.  The 
Czar,  after  having  examined  the  structure,  the 
strength  and  the  length  of  stroke  of  the  coining- 
engine,  joined  the  workmen  in  setting  it  in  motion. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    109 

Nothing  could  equal  his  surprise  when  there  ap- 
peared from  under  the  stamp  a  portrait  of  him- 
self, superior  as  to  resemblance  and  artistic  merit, 
to  all  the  medals  which  had  been  struck  for  him; 
he  also  appeared  quite  satisfied  with  the  reverse 
side.  It  was  a  figure  of  Renown  passing  from 
North  to  South,  with  these  words  of  Virgil:  Vires 
acquirit  eundo,  as  an  allusion  to  the  knowledge 
which  that  prince  acquired  in  his  travels. 

The  Czar  accepted  from  the  King  two  Gobelin 
tapestries,  and  refused  a  sword  studded  with 
diamonds.  He  gave  several  gold  and  silver 
medals  representing  the  principal  events  of  his  life 
and  his  portrait  ornamented  with  diamonds  to 
Marshals  d'Estrees  and  de  Tesse,  to  the  Due 
d'Antin  and  to  Verton.  He  acquired  for  the  lat- 
ter, who  had  him  served  during  his  sojourn,  a 
singular  friendship  and  asked  the  Regent  to  send 
him  to  him  as  charge  d'affaires  of  France  in 
Russia.  He  had  sixty  thousand  livres  distributed 
to  the  servants  who  had  waited  on  him.  He  ex- 
pressed the  greatest  desire  to  form  a  friendly 
alliance  with  us ;  but  as  this  was  not  in  accord  with 
the  new  political  plan  of  the  Regent,  or  rather  of 


i  io    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Abbe  Dubois,  he  was  only  answered  by  vague 
demonstrations  of  attachment  which  had  no 
further  result. 

The  Czar  left  here  the  zoth.  of  June  to  go  to 
Spa,  where  the  Czarina  was  to  meet  him.  He  was 
much  affected  on  leaving  as  he  spoke  of  France, 
and  he  said  that  it  was  with  grief  that  he  saw  that 
it  would  soon  be  ruined  by  luxury. 

That  year  an  event  took  place  which  should 
serve  as  an  example  to  those  who,  abusing  a  pre- 
carious authority,  often  cause  legitimate  authority 
to  be  hated.  The  inhabitants  of  Martinique, 
vexed  by  the  annoyances  of  la  Varennes,  the 
governor-general,  and  of  Ricouart,  the  commis- 
sary of  that  island,  had  often  and  use- 
lessly forwarded  their  complaints  to  the  minister 
of  France.  Fatigued  with  waiting  for  a  reply, 
the  islanders  met  secretly  and  decided  upon  a  plan 
of  action.  They  sought  out  the  governor  and  the 
commissary  and  found  them  dining  together. 
They  placed  them  both  on  board  of  a  ship  bound 
for  France,  handed  the  captain  a  new  memo- 
randum of  complaints  and  protestations  of  fidelity 
to  the  King,  made  him  swear  to  deliver  it  faith- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY  in 

fully,  accompanied  the  vessel  twelve  leagues  at 
sea,  with  two  well-armed  pirogues,  to  make  sure 
of  the  departure,  and  forbade  the  two  deposed 
vizirs  to  ever  again  set  foot  on  the  island. 

The  conduct  of  the  islanders  after  this  expe- 
dition was  so  quiet  and  submissive,  order  so  well 
maintained  in  the  colony,  that  the  Court  decided 
to  shut  its  eyes  on  what  had  taken  place.  The 
two  banished  ones  were  obliged  to  pocket  their 
affront  and,  what  in  France  is  the  greatest  of  pun- 
ishment, saw  themselves  the  object  of  mockeries 
and  ridicules  which  were  not  spared  them. 

Several  successors  of  la  Varennes  and  of 
Ricouart  have  not  much  profited  by  the  example. 
We  have  just  seen,  in  the  ease  with  which  Mar- 
tinique surrendered  to  the  English,  how  important 
it  is  for  a  government  not  to  render  itself  odious. 

While  the  inhabitants  of  Martinique  were  tak- 
ing the  law  into  their  own  hands,  those  of  Peri- 
gueux  implored  that  of  the  Regent  against  Cour- 
son,  commissary  of  Bordeaux.  He  was  the  son 
of  Lamoignon  de  Basville,  the  despot  of  Langue- 
doc,  and  had  been  commissary  of  Rouen.  The 
brigandage  of  his  secretaries  and  the  arrogant 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

pretension  of  his  demeanour  toward  them  was  the 
cause  of  his  almost  being  stoned  to  death  at 
Rouen,  where  he  was  first  commissary.  He  was 
compelled  to  flee  and  his  father's  credit  helped  him 
to  be  appointed  commissary  of  Guienne. 

The  spirit  of  despotism  which  he  had  inherited 
from  his  father,  without  his  capacity,  led  him  to 
levy  taxes  on  his  own  personal  authority.  The 
town  of  Perigueux  complained  and,  as  a  reply,  he 
had  the  aldermen  put  in  prison.  The  town  sent 
deputies  to  the  Court  to  appeal  against  this  act 
of  tyranny;  but  they  were  more  than  two  months 
besieging  the  office  of  the  Due  de  Noailles,  with- 
out ever  being  able  to  go  beyond  the  antechamber. 
That  minister,  friend  of  Courson,  wished,  by  de- 
lays, to  discourage  those  unfortunates.  Besides,  a 
maxim  of  tyrants  and  under-tyrants  is  to  always 
side  with  superiors.  Fortunately,  the  Comte  de 
Toulouse,  a  perfectly  honest  man,  heard  about  the 
matter.  He  informed  several  members  of  the 
regency  council  about  it  and  specially  the  Due  de 
Saint-Simon,  sworn  enemy  of  the  Due  de  Noailles, 
and  who  took  up  everything  with  the  greatest 
ardour. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     113 

The  first  time  that  the  Due  de  Noailles  came 
to  report  to  the  regency  council,  the  Due  de  Saint- 
Simon  asked  him  when  he  expected  to  settle  the 
Perigueux  affair,  exposing  the  case  succinctly  and 
very  vigorously.  The  Comte  de  Toulouse  sec- 
onded him  in  that  cold  and  indignant  tone  which 
a  denial  of  justice  gives  an  honest  man. 

Everybody  turned  their  eyes  towards  the  Due 
de  Noailles,  who  said  stammeringly  that  the  affair 
required  careful  examination  and  that  more  im- 
portant matters  had  prevented  him  from  attend- 
ing to  it.  The  Comte  de  Toulouse  and  Saint- 
Simon  retorted  that  there  was  nothing  more 
important  than  to  clear  up  charges  true  or  false 
which  for  the  past  three  months  kept  some  citizens 
in  irons. 

The  Regent  therefore  ordered  the  Due  de 
Noailles  to  report  on  the  matter  within  a  week. 
Noailles  came  to  the  council  a  week  after  with  a 
bag  full  of  papers.  Saint-Simon  asked  him  if  the 
Perigueux  case  was  in  it;  Noailles  replied  ill- 
humouredly  that  it  was  ready,  that  it  would  come 
in  its  turn,  and  began  by  reading  another,  then, 
still  another.  At  the  end  of  each  report  Saint- 


iii4    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Simon  always  asked:  "  And  the  Perigueux  case?  " 
It  was  Opera  day  and  the  Regent  always  went 
there  on  leaving  the  council;  and  Noailles  had 
flattered  himself  to  amuse  the  council  until  the 
hour  of  the  performance  and  perhaps  finally  to 
cause  Perigueux  to  be  forgotten.  At  last,  the 
hour  of  the  Opera  having  come,  Noailles  said  that 
the  affair  in  question  was  all  that  was  left,  but  that 
the  report  on  it  would  be  so  long  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  deprive  M.  le  Regent  of  his  recreation 
and  he  began  to  gather  up  his  papers.  Saint- 
Simon,  stopping  his  arm,  addressed  the  Regent  and 
asked  him  if  he  cared  so  much  for  the  Opera,  and 
if  he  did  not  prefer  to  render  justice  to  unfortu- 
nates who  implored  it.  The  Regent  resumed  his 
seat  and  consented  to  hear  the  report. 

Noailles  therefore  began  it,  with  concentrated 
fury,  but  Saint-Simon,  who  was  at  his  side,  had  his 
eyes  on  all  the  documents,  re-read  them  after 
Noailles,  and,  followed  the  report  with  the  most 
open  and  insulting  distrust.  The  affair  was 
so  outrageous  that  Noailles  himself  asked  for  the 
freedom  of  the  prisoners,  but  he  tried  to  excuse 
Courson  and  dwell  on  the  services  of  Basville,  his 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     115 

father.  The  petulant  Saint-Simon  interrupted 
him,  saying  that  not  the  father's  merit  but  the  son's 
iniquity  was  in  question,  and,  in  conclusion  added 
that  the  prisoners  should  be  indemnified  at  the 
expense  of  Courson,  that  the  latter  should  be 
driven  out  of  the  commissariat,  and  that  he  should 
be  punished  in  so  signal  a  manner,  that  his  case 
would  be  an  example  for  those  like  him.  The 
Regent  said  that  he  would  take  care  of  the  in- 
demnity, that  he  would  rate  Courson  soundly,  al- 
though he  deserved  worse,  but  that  the  father 
merited  some  consideration;  that  however  he  an- 
nulled Courson's  ordinances  with  a  warning  not 
to  repeat  the  same  offence.  Saint-Simon  asked 
that  the  decision  be  written  at  once,  "  not  daring," 
he  said,  u  to  trust  to  the  memory  of  the  Due  de 
Noailles  " ;  and  the  Regent  so  ordered.  Noailles, 
trembling  with  fury,  could  barely  hold  the  pen; 
Saint-Simon,  to  assist  him,  began  to  dictate. 
When  Noailles  came  to  the  annulment  of  the  or- 
dinances with  warning  not  to  repeat  the  same 
offence,  he  stopped:  "  Continue,"  said  Saint-Si- 
mon; "such  is  the  decree."  Noailles  looked 
around  at  the  council  to  see  if  there  was  no  miti- 


Ii6     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

gation.  Saint-Simon  put  the  question  to  the  entire 
council,  which  was  unanimous  in  its  decision;  thus 
ended  the  Perigueux  affair. 

Shortly  after,  Courson  was  recalled,  and  said, 
as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  that  he  had  asked  for  his 
recall.  If  that  is  true,  the  province  showed  its 
gratitude  by  bonfires.  This  did  not  hinder  him 
from  later  having  a  place  of  councilor  in  the  royal 
council  of  finances. 

Although  this  is  only  a  special  affair,  I  thought 
it  well  to  report  it,  so  as  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
trickery  of  the  ministers,  of  the  annoyances  that 
are  committed  in  the  King's  name,  of  the  impunity 
of  which  they  are  assured,  except  in  unique  cir- 
cumstances, such  as  the  chance  which  brought  the 
matter  to  the  ears  of  the  Comte  de  Toulouse,  whose 
sense  of  equity  was  iroused  by  the  resentment  of 
the  Due  de  Saint-Simon.  Besides  this,  one  can 
still  see,  by  Courson's  fortune,  that  those  who 
have  a  name  in  their  class  succeed  much  in  the 
same  manner,  merit  or  no  merit. 

I  have  forgotten  to  say  that  Chancellor 
d'Aguesseau,  although  just,  was  the  only  one  of 
the  council  who  tried  to  lighten  the  decree,  because 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     117 

men  of  the  long  robe  always  make  common  cause 
when  they  have  no  contrary  interest,  and  they  fear 
to  weaken  the  respect  for  the  magistracy.  That 
year  he  secured  nobility  to  the  councilors  of  the 
great  council,  with  exemption  of  the  lord's  due 
for  estates  held  from  the  King. 

Speaking  of  consideration  for  the  magistracy, 
the  Regent  last  year,  had  had  a  mind  to  take  part 
in  the  mid- August  procession,  for  the  vow  of 
Louis  XIII.  The  Parliament  claimed  to  have 
the  right  side,  alleging  that  Gaston  had  only 
walked  on  the  left  in  a  similar  ceremony,  during 
the  minority  of  Louis  XIV,  although  Gaston  was 
son  of  France,  and  at  that  time  lieutenant-general 
of  the  Kingdom.  The  Regent,  without  discussing 
the  matter,  abstained  from  the  procession.  This 
year,  the  same  desire  took  possession  of  him,  and 
he  announced  that  he  would  precede  the  Parlia- 
ment, basing  this  on  the  example  of  the  Due  de 
Montpensier,  who  had  preceded  it  at  the  procession 
of  Sainte-Genevieve  on  the  loth  September,  1570. 
The  Parliament  opposed  to  this  that  the  Due  de 
Montpensier  had  only  had  the  precedence  in 
virtue  of  a  warrant  of  the  King  and  to  represent 


Ii8     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

him;  it  added  that  the  Regent  himself  being  a 
member  of  Parliament,  could  only  march  between 
two  presidents,  if  he  did  not  represent  the  King. 
The  Regent,  not  wishing  to  take  advantage  of 
his  authority  nor  sacrifice  a  childish  whim, 
thought  he  was  doing  a  marvellous  thing  by  mak- 
ing use  of  the  Due  de  Montpensier's  expedient 
and  he  appeared  at  this  ceremony  as  representing 
the  King,  with  gardes  du  corps,  cent-suisses,  cap- 
itaine  de  quartier,  first  gentleman  of  the  chamber, 
in  short,  all  the  pomp  of  royalty;  this  had  an 
ill  effect.  The  malcontents  said  that  the  Regent 
was  making  a  public  trial  of  the  crown,  so  as  to 
accustom  the  public  to  it  upon  an  emergency: 
the  prince's  friends  thought  it  rather  bad  that  a 
Regent  of  France  should  precede  the  Parliament 
only  by  virtue  of  a  commission  which  gave  him 
nothing  personal.  The  Parliament  was  gaining 
ground  and  the  people  only  saw  in  the  affair  one 
of  those  exhibitions  which  consoles  them  for  every- 
thing. The  fete  of  Saint-Louis  was  celebrated  at 
the  Tuileries  by  fireworks,  which  attracted  an  in- 
numerable crowd  in  the  garden  and  in  the  court- 
yards. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     119 

It  was  on  just  such  occasions  that  Marshal  de 
Villeroi  displayed  his  great  talents  for  education. 
He  continually  took  the  King  from  one  window  to 
another,  saying  to  him :  "  See,  my  master,  see  that 
people!  well,  all  that  is  yours,  all  belongs  to  you, 
you  are  its  master!"  Fine  lesson!  instead  of 
making  him  notice  the  love  of  the  people  and  in- 
spire him  with  the  gratitude  which  the  King  owes 
them.  But  the  marshal  did  not  know  enough  for 
that. 

The  Parliament,  after  having  tried  equality 
with  the  Regent  in  a  procession,  undertook  some- 
thing of  greater  importance  in  the  government; 
the  question  of  the  registration  of  the  suppression 
of  the  tenth-tax  came  up :  the  Parliament  asked 
for  a  statement  of  the  revenues  and  expenses  of  the 
King;  the  Regent  refused  it  and  replied  that  h& 
would  not  suffer  that  the  King's  authority  be  at- 
tacked during  the  regency.  The  Parliament 
could  no  doubt  be  of  great  use  to  the  people,  but 
it  usually  selects  improper  occasions  for  resistance. 
In  this  case,  for  example,  there  was  a  question  of 
a  suppression  which  the  public  awaited  with  im- 
patience, and  the  few  changes  required  in  some  of 


120    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  clauses  were  not  difficult  of  settlement,  so  the 
registration  had  to  be  done.  Besides  schisms  oc- 
curred in  the  Parliament  with  regard  to  the  nom- 
ination of  commissaries.  The  commissions  were 
beginning  to  suspect  that  the  premier  president  was 
a  double-faced  scoundrel.  In  truth,  the  premier 
president  had  already  twice  received  his  brevet 
de  retenue  of  five  hundred  thousand  livres  and  yet 
did  not  consider  that  he  was  sufficiently  paid;  we 
shall  later  see  that  he  was  right. 

While  the  Regent  strove  to  preserve  the  peace 
with  our  neighbours,  he  saw  with  anxiety  the  war 
preparations  which  Spain  was  making.  Alberoni, 
having  settled  the  differences  between  his  master 
and  the  pope,  from  whom  he  drew  an  indult  to 
place  an  assessment  on  the  clergy  of  Spain,  had 
prepared  a  considerable  armament  and  led  the 
pope  to  understand  that  it  was  to  oppose  the  un- 
dertakings that  the  Turks  might  attempt  on  Italy. 
Clement  XI,  in  recognition  of  so  many  services, 
gave  him  at  last,  although  with  much  repugnance, 
the  hat.  The  Sacred  college  complained  a  great 
deal,  the  pope  himself  wept,  but  Alberoni  was 
cardinal  and  then  said  to  his  intimates  that  "  hav- 


ing  nothing  to  look  to  for  himself,  he  was  now 
going  to  work  for  the  King's  glory." 

Alberoni's  plan  was,  he  said:  first  to  save  the 
honour  of  the  King  of  Spain;  second,  to  maintain 
the  peace  of  Italy;  third,  to  assure  to  the  sons  of 
the  Queen  of  Spain  the  successions  of  Tuscany 
and  of  Parma  and  to  obtain  for  the  King  of  Spain, 
Naples,  Sicily,  and  the  ports  of  Tuscany;  fourth, 
to  divide  the  state  of  Mantua,  by  giving  the  city 
and  a  part  of  the  country  to  the  Venetians,  the 
other  part  to  the  Due  de  Guastalla;  fifth,  the 
Milanese  and  Monferrat  to  the  Emperor;  sixth, 
Sardinia  to  King  Victor,  to  compensate  him  for 
Sicily;  seventh,  restore  Commachio  to  the  pope; 
and  eighth,  divide  the  Catholic  lowlands  between 
France  and  Holland. 

Alberoni,  to  establish  in  time  to  come  an 
equilibrium  and  a  lasting  peace,  began  by  light- 
ing a  fire,  without  having  the  means  nor  the 
necessary  strength  to  execute  his  projects.  Such 
is  that  Alberoni  whom  some  have  tried  to  show 
as  a  great  man,  a  title  too  readily  bestowed  on 
extraordinary  men,  and  which  they  only  owe  to 
those  who  should  have  the  greatest  reason  for 


discrediting  them  —  to  writers  born  of  the  middle 
class,  who  are  the  victims,  and  bear  the  burden 
of  all  great  enterprises. 

The  great  man  is  the  one  who,  for  objects  great 
and  useful,  proportions  the  means  to  the  enter- 
prises, the  crowns  by  the  success,  and  can  con- 
gratulate himself  on  the  events,  since  he  has  fore- 
seen them,  prepared  them  and  brought  them  about. 
Even  those  who  are  called  great  geniuses  can 
raise  or  destroy  great  States,  but  they  are  not 
always  the  best  fitted  for  administration.  They 
make  unfortunates  and  to  crown  all,  they  excite 
the  emulation  of  mediocre  successors  who  only 
cause  disasters. 

Alberoni,  born  in  the  dust,  rises  by  his  intellect, 
and  reaches  one  of  the  highest  dignities.  That 
is  not  the  act  of  a  common  man.  But  he  leads 
his  master  into  a  ruinous  war,  places  him  in  a  posi- 
tion to  make  a  forced  peace  and  finally  has  him- 
self expelled  to  go  to  Rome  and  live  in  opulence 
and  contempt.  He  came  very  near  being  de- 
graded, and  only  avoided  it  by  the  interest  which 
cardinals  have  in  rendering  the  purple  invulner- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     123 

able  even  in  those  who  disgrace  it.  These  are  the 
facts.  Let  the  reader  judge. 

As  soon  as  the  Spanish  fleet  reached  Sardinia, 
all  the  powers  were  set  in  motion;  each  suspected 
the  others  of  being  in  league  with  Spain.  The 
Emperor,  proud  of  his  victories  in  Hungary,  re- 
proached the  pope  with  having  granted  an  indult 
to  the  King  of  Spain  on  the  pretext  of  arming 
against  the  Turk,  and  of  seeing  these  armies  used 
against  Christians.  He  threatened  Clement  XI 
to  at  once  carry  war  into  Italy.  The  pope, 
frightened,  wept  bitterly  and  said  in  his  grief 
"  that  he  had  damned  himself  by  giving  the  hat 
to  Alberoni";  to  which  Cardinal  del  Giudice  re- 
plied "  that  he  would  do  himself  the  honour  of 
following  His  Holiness  everywhere,  except  in 
hell." 

England  was  at  that  time  divided  in  its  in- 
terior into  two  opposing  parties.  The  misunder- 
standing between  King  George  and  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  his  son,  had  become  an  open  hatred.  The 
King,  in  reviewing  his  troops,  had  refused  to  pass 
in  front  of  his  son's  regiment,  unless  that  prince 


124    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

withdrew,  and  he  had  even  just  banished  him  to 
the  village  of  Richmond,  near  London.  George 
was  incensed  to  have  as  a  successor  a  prince  whom 
he  did  not  look  upon  as  his  son.  No  one  was 
ignorant  of  what  had  taken  place  at  Hanover 
before  George  had  received  the  crown  of  England. 
That  prince,  suspecting  a  criminal  intercourse  be- 
tween his  wife  and  the  Comte  de  Konigsmark,  had 
had  the  latter  thrown  into  a  lime-kiln,  and  had 
kept  the  Electress  imprisoned  in  a  chateau.  The 
birth  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  had  always  been 
suspicious  to  King  George,  who  could  never  bear 
him. 

Alberoni,  in  real  or  apparent  security  with  re- 
gard to  the  foreign  powers,  had  a  sudden  alarm 
in  Spain.  The  King  became  dangerously  ill. 
The  Queen  and  Alberoni  kept  that  prince  prac- 
tically as  a  prisoner.  Almost  all  the  officers  of 
the  palace,  reduced  to  titles  without  functions, 
only  saw  the  prince  at  moments,  at  his  meals  or  at 
chapel.  Two  gentlemen  of  the  chamber,  one  of 
whom  was  even  majordomo  to  the  Queen,  and  a 
few  absolutely  necessary  servants,  took  charge  of 
the  entire  service. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     125 

The  Queen's  nurse  entered  the  room  alone  to 
put  on  his  shoes,  at  the  moment  the  King  arose, 
and  caused  Alberoni  great  jealousy;  but  there  was 
no  way  of  excluding  her  and  it  was  dangerous  to 
attempt  it. 

The  King's  ailment  compelled  the  calling  of 
the  head  physician  and  the  other  health  officers. 
The  right  and  the  duty  of  the  chief  majordomo 
was  to  be  present  during  the  preparing  and  ad- 
ministering of  all  remedies;  the  Marquis  de 
Villena,  Due  d'Escalone,  wishing  to  perform  that 
duty,  came  into  the  room  and  near  the  King's  bed. 
Alberoni,  piqued,  forbade  the  usher  to  allow  Vil- 
lena to  enter.  The  latter  having  presented  him- 
self, the  usher  partly  opened  the  door,  and  told 
him  of  the  order  he  had  received.  Villena  calls 
him  an  insolent  fellow,  pushes  the  door,  enters, 
and  advances  towards  the  bed  of  the  King,  who 
was  too  ill  to  notice  anything.  The  Queen  and 
Alberoni  were  at  the  head  of  the  bed  and  the  offi- 
cers on  duty  were  at  a  distance.  Alberoni  seeing 
the  marquis  advance,  wished  to  have  him  leave 
and  took  him  by  the  arm  to  turn  him  back.  Vil- 
lena, who  was  very  gouty,  while  struggling  against 


126    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  cardinal,  fell  in  an  arm-chair,  but  seizing 
Alberoni  by  the  sleeve,  he  gave  him  a  number  of 
blows  about  the  shoulders  and  ears  with  his  cane, 
calling  him  a  priestling,  a  little  puppy  to  whom 
he  would  teach  the  respect  which  he  owed  him. 

Alberoni,  stunned  at  such  treatment  admin- 
istered to  a  cardinal,  and  perhaps  through  a  feel- 
ing of  his  low  origin,  only  thought  of  getting  rid 
of  the  hands  of  the  angry  marquis  and  took  refuge 
near  the  bed,  without  the  Queen,  out  of  dignity, 
and  the  servants,  out  of  secret  pleasure,  having 
moved  to  assist  him.  After  this  affair,  one  of  the 
valets  came  to  help  Villena  to  arise  from  the  arm- 
chair and  leave  the  room.  The  King  did  not 
notice  this  scene  at  all.  Hardly  had  the  marquis 
returned  home  when  he  received  orders  to  betake 
himself  to  one  of  his  estates.  The  cardinal  dared 
not  have  recourse  to  censure,  fearing  to  make  the 
adventure  public,  which  it  nevertheless  became. 
A  few  months  after  Villena  was  recalled,  refused 
all  the  cardinal's  advances  and  always  treated  him 
haughtily. 

The  King  became  so  ill  that  the  Queen  had  him 
draw  up  a  will  by  which  she  was  probably  ap- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     127 

pointed  regent,  but  its  particulars  have  never  been 
known.  Six  Spanish  grandees  certified  and  signed 
the  will,  without  however  seeing  anything  of  its 
contents  except  the  signature  of  the  King.  This 
prince's  health  was  restored,  but,  although  he  lived 
nearly  thirty  years  after  that  (he  only  died  in 
1746),  his  mind  remained  quite  weak.  If  I  con- 
tinue these  memoirs  until  his  death,  I  shall  give 
singular  proof  of  this  drawn  from  the  correspond- 
ence of  our  ministers  at  Madrid. 

Alberoni,  hated  by  the  people  and  despised  by 
the  nobles,  as  much  as  a  powerful  minister  can 
well  be,  did  not  exhibit  less  assurance  in  the  eyes 
of  all  the  foreign  powers.  The  Nuncio  Aldovan- 
dri,  having  received  a  brief  from  the  pope  which 
revoked  the  indult,  was  unable  to  transmit  it  to 
the  King,  who  was  always  locked  up,  and  he  de- 
livered it  to  the  minister,  who  paid  no  attention 
to  it,  and  pretended,  out  of  derision,  no  doubt,  that 
the  pope  should  be  much  obliged  to  him  for  hav- 
ing had  the  constitution  accepted  by  the  bishops  of 
Spain. 

Clement  XI,  who  would  have  been  flattered  at 
such  acceptance  on  the  part  of  France,  considered 


128    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

it  rash  in  Spain.  The  Court  of  Rome  maintained 
that  its  bulls  should  be  received  by  the  Spanish 
bishops  provoluti  ud  pedes. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Emperor,  still  treating 
the  pope  with  haughtiness,  asked  him  and  even 
ordered  him  to  recall  Nuncio  Aldovandri,  to  sum- 
mon Alberoni  to  Rome  or  that  he  be  tried  in 
Spain. 

Alberoni  was  not  in  the  least  affected,  promis- 
ing the  pope  to  soon  avenge  him  of  the  Emperor 
and  asking,  in  the  meantime,  a  permission  to  re- 
side at  Malaga,  of  which  he  had  just  been  given 
the  bishopric  worth  ten  thousand  livres.  The 
pope,  knowing  that  that  permission  would  be  a  new 
grievance  with  the  Emperor,  refused  it  in  appear- 
ance; but  not  daring  to  offend  Alberoni,  he  sent 
him  word  by  Father  d'Aubenton  that  he  granted 
him  the  permission  for  six  months  of  the  year,  and 
that  the  council  of  prelates  giving  him  six  other 
months,  he  would  thus  have  a  perpetual  licence  to 
reside. 

In  the  meantime  all  the  powers  of  Europe  were 
stirring.  Never  had  negotiations  been  more  ac- 
tive, more  variable,  nor  interests  more  complicated. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    129 

We  shall  see  what  were  the  results  after  having 
reported  some  of  the  special  events  of  that  year. 

The  King,  having  reached  his  seventh  year  on. 
February  I5th,  passed  into  the  hands  of  men. 
It  would  be  desirable  that  princes  be  turned  over 
to  them  from  their  birth.  It  is  the  duty  of  women 
to  nurse  them,  and  of  men  to  bring  them  up, 
specially  when  Montandiers,  Beauvilliers,  Bossuets 
or  Fenelons  are  chosen.  Their  equals  will  be 
found,  will  be  created,  when  the  public  voice  is 
consulted.  It  is  a  justice  to  be  rendered  to 
Louis  XIV:  he  has  often  regulated  his  choice  on 
renown.  Louvois  could  never  set  aside  Turenne. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  change  from  women  to 
men,  the  first  gentlemen  claimed  their  ancient 
rights  of  sleeping  in  the  King's  chamber.  The 
first  valets  de  chambre  pleaded  the  long  possession: 
in  which  they  were;  and  the  Regent,  wishing  to 
humour  everybody,  referred  the  decision  to  the 
majority,  all  things  remaining  in  suspense,  and 
they  have  continued  the  same  since.  It  is  thus 
that  through  neglect  and  non-usage,  several  offi- 
cers of  the  Court  are  other  than  they  were 
originally.  It  is  in  the  same  way  that  the  master 


130    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

of  the  horse  lost  his  case  against  the  head  of  the 
•petite  ecurle,  who  had  become  successively  almost 
his  equal,  and  has  maintained  himself  in  independ- 
ence. 

The  Prince  Elector  of  Saxony,  to-day  King  of 
Poland,  became  or  declared  himself  a  Catholic  that 
year,  so  as  to  prepare  his  succession  to  his  father's 
throne.  When  the  latter  had  become  a  Catholic, 
the  Electress,  his  wife,  a  zealous  Protestant,  would 
no  longer  have  any  intercourse  with  her  husband, 
nor  receive  the  honours  of  a  Queen. 

The  Chevalier  d'Oppede,  nephew  of  Cardinal 
Janson,  died  that  year.  Having  no  other  posses- 
sion than  his  face,  he  had  married,  out  of  neces- 
sity, the  Marquise  d'Argenton,  mistress  of  the 
Regent  and  mother  of  Chevalier  d'Orleans,  and 
for  honour's  sake  kept  his  marriage  secret.  I  re- 
port a  fact  of  so  little  importance  only  to  show 
that  people  still  wished  to  contract  proper  mar- 
riages. By  this  I  do  not  mean  to  condemn  mar- 
riages disproportionate  either  on  account  of  birth 
or  fortune,  but  justified  by  merit. 

Massillon,  priest  of  the  Oratory,  renowned  for 
his  sermons,  and  specially  for  his  Petit-Car  erne  t 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    131 

without  any  other  protection  than  his  merit,  was 
appointed  to  the  bishopric  of  Clermont.  He 
would  not  have  been  in  a  position  to  accept  had 
not  Crozat,  the  younger,  paid  the  bulls. 

The  Duchesse  de  Berri  took  among  her  ladies 
the  Marquise  d'Arpajon,  daughter  of  Le  Bas  de 
Montargis,  treasurer  extraordinary  of  the  wars, 
and  mother  of  the  Comtesse  de  Noailles  of  to- 
day. With  a  face  both  beautiful  and  noble,  she 
was  still  more  distinguished  for  her  virtue  and  her 
piety.  It  was  by  her  and  the  Marquise  de  la 
Rochefoucauld,  daughter  of  the  financier  Prondre, 
that  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  was  accompanied  to  the 
Carmelites,  to  whom  she  used  to  say:  "  I  bring 
you  my  three  bourgeoises." 

It  is  claimed  that  the  eye  trouble  which  the  Re- 
gent had  about  this  time  was  due  to  the  blow  of  a 
fan  which  he  had  received  from  the  Marquise 
d'Arpajon,  with  whom  he  had  attempted  to  take 
liberties.  These  two  women  were  more  in  their 
spheres  at  the  Carmelites  than  they  would  have 
been  at  the  suppers  which  the  princess  took  with 
the  Regent's  roues,  and  from  which  they  had  the 
honour  of  being  excluded. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  Duchesse  de  Berri  created  the  place  of  mas- 
ter of  the  wardrobe,  which  she  gave  to  a  Marquis 
de  Bonnivet,  bastard  of  Gouffier  and  a  great 
fighter.  She  was  very  glad,  she  said,  to  have  a 
handy  man  about  the  house;  which  did  not  seem 
quite  the  proper  piece  of  furniture  for  the  first 
princess  of  France. 

I  shall  report  the  matters  concerning  this  prin- 
cess as  the  occasions  offer.  Should  one  wish  to 
tell  all  relating  to  her,  the  narrative  would  be  too 
long  drawn  out. 

Louise  Adelaide  d'Orleans,  her  younger  sister, 
took  the  veil  in  the  Abbey  of  Chelles,  the  3Oth  of 
March.  That  princess,  with  beauty  and  much  wit, 
was  rather  excitable.  Her  mother  feared  the  con- 
sequences and  contributed  not  a  little  to  her  daugh- 
ter's vocation.  Her  seclusion  determined  her  to 
give  herself  up  to  chemistry,  anatomy,  and  to  the 
study  of  natural  history.  She  had  the  greatest 
facility  for  all  she  wished  to  learn,  and  found 
many  ways  of  not  being  bored.  She  wrote  a  let- 
ter which  she  signed  wife  of  Jesus  Christ,  at  which 
the  prince  said  that  he  thought  himself  on  bad 
terms  with  his  son-in-law,  a  jest  more  worthy  of  a 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    133 

libertine  than  of  a  philosopher,  and  out  of  place 
in  a  man  whose  every  word  was  noted. 

The  chancellors  having  had  until  then  no  other 
quarters  than  their  own  homes,  the  Regent  as- 
signed to  the  Chancellery  the  house  of  the  place 
Vendome  which  formed  a  part  of  the  assize  of 
Bourvalais. 

The  Regent  also  purchased  for  the  crown  the 
largest  and  most  perfect  diamond  to  be  found  in 
Europe.  It  is  called  the  Regent,  and  sometimes 
the  Pitt,  the  name  of  the  seller,  brother-in-law  of 
Stanhope,  England's  secretary  of  state,  and  uncle 
of  the  celebrated  Pitt  of  to-day.  Four  millions 
was  asked  for  it,  but  owing  to  lack  of  purchasers, 
it  was  sold  for  two,  including  the  chips  which  came 
from  the  cutting.  It  weighs  600  grains.  Pitt 
had  acquired  it  from  a  workman  of  the  Mogul 
mines. 

Among  those  employed  in  the  mines,  are  free 
men  who  sometimes  spend  years  there;  but  when 
they  wish  to  leave,  those  in  charge  take  the  pre- 
caution to  purge  them  and  give  them  an  injection 
to  make  them  cast  out  what  they  might  have  swal- 
lowed and  hidden  about  their  bodies.  The  work- 


134    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

man  in  question  had  resorted  to  the  last  method, 
but  as  soon  as  he  had  hidden  his  booty,  he  made  an 
incision  in  his  thigh,  as  if  he  had  fallen  on  a  sharp 
stone.  He  then  called  for  help;  the  quantity  of 
blood  with  which  he  was  covered  caused  him  to  be 
carried  out,  without  the  usual  precaution  being 
taken.  He  was  clever  enough  to  take  the  dia- 
mond and  hide  it  during  the  little  time  he  was 
allowed  to  rest,  after  his  wound  had  been 
dressed.  He  later  pretended  to  be  unfit  to 
work,  asked  for  the  money  due  him,  so  as  not 
to  reveal  his  fortune,  and  found  a  way  to  get  to 
Europe. 

To  make  what  is  to  follow  more  clear,  let  us 
begin  by  giving  an  idea  of  the  different  interests 
which  put  the  actors  in  motion. 

The  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine,  in  despair 
at  the  loss  of  their  suit  against  the  princes  of  the 
blood,  worked  quietly  to  foment  trouble;  they 
carried  on  a  correspondence  in  Spain  and  sought 
to  make  friends  in  the  Parliament  whose  premier 
president  was  entirely  devoted  to  them.  Besides, 
the  Parliament,  which  had  flattered  itself  of  hav- 
ing a  part  in  the  administration,  took  every  oppor- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     135 

tunity  to  make  remonstrances,  and  the  Regent 
often  supplied  cause. 

Marshal  de  Villeroi  and  all  the  old  Court  for- 
got nothing  to  discredit  him  with  the  public.  In. 
this  matter  the  marshal  affected  proceedings  as 
improper  as  they  were  ridiculous,  but  which  im- 
pressed the  people.  He  kept  under  lock  and  key 
the  linen  and  the  bread  of  the  King,  delivered  with 
childish  ostentation  the  most  ordinary  things  of 
the  service,  and  sought  to  have  people  notice  his 
precautions  as  to  the  prince's  wine.  Fools  ad- 
mired; the  ill-disposed  applauded;  sensible  people 
laughed  with  contempt  and  felt  that  if  there  had 
been  danger,  the  meats,  the  drinks  and  thousand 
other  means  of  crime  would  have  rendered  useless 
the  laughable  precautions  of  the  tutor. 

He  had  the  title  of  chief  of  the  council  of 
finances,  and  he  was  incapable  of  understanding 
anything  about  these;  he  was  only  the  more  jealous 
of  the  Due  de  Noailles  who,  although  only  the 
president,  was  nevertheless  the  master  of  all  the 
administration.  The  latter,  in  turn,  saw  with  sor- 
row the  credit  which  Law  was  acquiring  with  the 
Regent. 


136     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

This  competition  in  the  financial  department  was 
an  obstacle  to  the  desire  which  Noailles  always 
had  to  become  prime  minister.  Abbe  Dubois,  who 
from  far  off  aimed  at  the  same  office,  secretly  sup- 
ported Law,  from  whom  he  drew  much  money. 
Without  stopping  to  discuss  the  nature  of  the  sys- 
tem, I  shall  simply  remark  that,  in  view  of  the 
Regent's  character,  Law  pleased  him  by  his  in- 
telligence, and  specially  by  his  extraordinary  ideas. 
But  for  the  same  reason  the  latter  displeased  the 
chancellor  who  beside  was  friendly  to  the  Due  de 
Noailles.  The  Regent,  finding  them  always  op- 
posed to  his  new  projects,  one  through  interest,  the 
other  through  integrity,  was  disgusted  with  them. 
The  chancellor  might  be  reproached  for  his  irreso- 
lution, but  the  most  annoying  thing  about  him  was 
his  virtue. 

However  that  may  be,  the  remonstrances  of  the 
Parliament  of  the  26th  January  were  so  power- 
ful, and  the  chancellor  so  weak,  either  through  a 
sentiment  of  equity,  or  through  his  usual  considera- 
tion for  the  magistracy,  that  the  Regent  resolved 
to  take  away  the  seals  from  him  and  give  them  to 
d'Argenson,  then  lieutenant  of  police;  and  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     137 

chancellor  received  an  order  to  withdraw  to 
Fresne.  The  Due  de  Noailles,  on  learning  of  the 
chancellor's  disgrace,  did  not  doubt  that  his  own 
was  impending,  and  came  at  once  to  tender  his 
resignation  from  the  finance  department,  whose  ad- 
ministration was  given  to  d'Argenson  at  the  same 
time  as  the  seals. 

The  State  did  not  gain  in  this  change  which 
favoured  the  unfortunate  Law  system;  but  Paris 
lost  the  best  lieutenant  of  police  it  had  ever  had. 
D'Argenson,  with  a  frightful  face  which  impressed 
the  populace,  had  a  mind,  broad,  clear  and  pene- 
trating; was  firm  and  possessed  all  sorts  of  cour- 
age. He  forestalled  or  quieted  more  disorders 
through  the  fear  which  he  inspired  than  through 
punishment.  Many  families  have  owed  to  him 
the  preservation  of  their  honour  and  of  the  fortune 
of  their  children  which  would  have  been  irretriev- 
ably lost  with  the  King,  had  not  this  magistrate 
hushed  many  a  youthful  prank. 

Fontenelle  has  perfectly  described  the  plan  of 
the  Paris  police  and  d'Argenson  has  carried  it  out 
to  its  fullest  extent;  but  as  his  fortune  was  always 
his  principal  object,  he  was  more  fiscal  than  a 


138     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

magistrate  should  be.  Machault  succeeded  him  in 
the  place  of  lieutenant  of  police  and  did  it  with 
greater  integrity  than  intelligence. 

The  Regent,  to  console  the  Due  de  Noailles  for 
the  loss  of  the  finance  department,  placed  him  in 
the  regency  council  and  gave  to  the  son,  aged  five 
years,  the  reversion  of  the  offices  of  the  father. 

The  ease  which  the  Regent  had  of  granting  all 
to  those  who  importuned  him,  induced  the  Due 
de  Lorraine,  his  brother-in-law,  to  come  to  France 
incognito  under  the  name  of  Comte  de  Blamont. 
As  to  the  Duchesse  de  Lorraine,  she  appeared 
always  under  her  title  of  petite-fille  de  France,  of 
which  the  rank  was  decided.  They  were  given  all 
possible  entertainment  during  their  two  months 
of  sojourn,  but  the  Due  de  Lorraine  had  a  more 
important  object  than  that  of  amusement.  He  de- 
sired a  ward  in  Champagne  and  the  title  of  Royal 
Highness. 

On  the  first  matter,  he  was  trying  to  revive 
old  pretensions  which  had  been  rejected  and  re- 
duced to  nothing  by  the  last  treaties.  He  based 
the  second  on  the  claim  that  the  Duke  of  Savoy, 
likewise  brother-in-law  to  the  Regent,  had  had  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     139 

title  of  Royal  Highness,  which  his  wife,  petite-pile 
de  France  and  Royal  Highness  herself,  had  passed 
to  him,  which  was  not  exactly  the  truth.  Victor- 
Amedee,  before  having  obtained  the  title  of  King 
in  1713,  had  long  been  married  and  Duke  of 
Savoy,  without  having  shared  his  wife's  title.  To 
do  so,  he  revived  that  of  King  of  Cyprus,  obtained 
in  Rome  the  royal  hall  for  his  ambassadors,  and 
at  Vienna  the  treatment  of  those  of  crowned-heads, 
and  the  same  consideration  successively  at  all 
Courts.  This  secured,  gave  him  the  personal  title 
of  Royal  Highness,  but  what  contributed  most  to 
this  was  the  importance  of  his  States,  that  of  his 
alliance  and  his  influence  in  the  affairs  of  Italy. 

The  Due  de  Lorraine  alleged  his  pretended 
title  of  King  of  Jerusalem,  but  his  power  was  of 
little  account,  and  he  had  in  common  with  the 
Duke  of  Savoy  only  the  chimerical  title  of  King 
and  having  married  a  petite-pile  de  France.  The 
fondness  of  Madame  for  all  that  was  of  Germany, 
decided  all. 

Saint-Contest,  who,  under  a  plain  and  coarse 
exterior,  was  the  shrewdest  man,  the  cleverest 
courtier,  was  charged  with  reporting  to  the  regency 


140     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

council  the  affair  relating  to  the  pretensions  of  the 
Due  de  Lorraine  in  Champagne.  As  he  had  long 
been  commissary  at  Metz,  no  one  was  in  a  better 
position  to  know  the  inconveniences  of  what  was 
about  to  be  granted,  and  consequently  to  disguise 
them  in  his  report.  He  made  it  as  it  was  wanted, 
and  the  affair  was  passed  unanimously  in  Parlia- 
ment, which  registered  it  without  the  least  objec- 
tion. The  Due  de  Lorraine  won  superiority  over 
the  princes  of  the  blood  who  formerly  would  not 
have  consented  to  equality.  The  union  of  Lor- 
raine and  France  has  obviated  the  subsequent 
troubles  which  this  decision  might  have  caused,  but 
this  could  not  be  foreseen  at  that  time. 

The  Grand-Duke  of  Tuscany,  son-in-law  of  Gas- 
ton,  and  whose  house  has  given  two  queens  to 
France,  from  one  of  whom  the  reigning  branch  is 
descended,  was  not  long  in  asking  the  Royal  High- 
ness rank.  The  Duke  of  Holstein-Gottorp  made 
the  same  request,  but  both  were  refused.  Shortly 
after,  the  Regent  granted  the  honours  of  Majesty 
to  the  King  of  Denmark,  and  the  title  of  high 
powers  to  the  States-general  of  Holland. 

The  entry  of  the  Due  de  Noailles  to  the  regency 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     141 

council  inspired  the  other  chiefs  with  a  desire  to 
enter  it,  and  they  obtained  the  privilege  without 
losing  their  other  places.  Finally  there  were  as 
many  as  thirty  members  in  it.  It  is  true  that  this 
gave  them  but  little  share  in  the  government. 
Abbe  Dubois  gradually  secured  all  the  secrets  of 
foreign  affairs,  and  those  of  finance  were  attended 
to  solely  by  Argenson  and  Law,  which  did  not 
prevent  each  member  from  drawing  the  emolu- 
ments of  these  idle  titles. 

D' Argenson  asked  for  the  tabouret  for  his  wife 
and  obtained  it.  She  was  the  first  who  secured 
it  on  the  claim  of  wife  of  keeper  of  the  seals. 

Times  of  usurpation  at  Court  lead  necessarily 
to  bickerings,  which  often  take  the  place  of  more 
important  affairs.  Marshal  de  Villars,  as  chief  of 
the  council  of  war,  wrote  a  circular  letter  to  the 
colonels.  No  one  would  have  dared  during  the 
life  of  the  late  King,  to  complain  of  the  tone  of 
the  State  secretaries. 

Marquis  de  Bauffremont  took  it  upon  himself  to 
find  it  improper  on  the  part  of  a  marshal  of 
France,  and  replied  by  so  insolent  a  letter  that  he 
was  sent  to  the  Bastille,  and  the  marshals  of 


142     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

France  asked  besides  that  he  apologise  to  Marshal 
Villars.  The  Regent,  who  saw  the  women  and 
all  the  young  people  take  sides  with  Bauffremont, 
feared  to  offend  so  respectable  a  body,  and  con- 
tented himself  with  summoning  the  young  man  to 
the  presence  of  the  marshal  and  to  say  to  the 
latter  that  Bauffremont  had  not  intended  to  offend 
him,  so  that  Bauffremont,  not  opening  his  mouth, 
the  Regent  alone  made  apologies. 

Poirier,  who  had  succeeded  Fagon  in  his  place 
of  first  physician,  the  only  one  to  be  lost  on  the 
death  of  Kings,  having  died,  the  Regent  declared 
that  he  did  not  wish  to  meddle  with  the  selection 
of  a  successor,  but  that  he  excluded  Chirac  because 
he  was  his  own  physician,  and  Boudin  for  the  in- 
solent statements  he  had  made  against  him,  Due 
d'Orleans,  on  the  death  of  the  Due  de  Bourgogne 
and  on  that  of  the  other  princes.  The  place 
was  given  to  Dodart,  a  man  of  intelligence,  merit 
and  virtue,  who  has  left  two  sons  worthy  of  him. 
One  is  to-day  commissary  at  Bourges,  the  other 
serves  with  distinction  in  the  carabineers. 

On  Holy-Thursday,  the  grand  almoner  being 
absent,  Cardinal  de  Polignac,  at  mass,  claimed  that 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     143 

it  was  his  duty  to  hold  the  gospels  for  the  King  to 
kiss  in  preference  to  the  first  almoner.  The  edi- 
fying dispute  prevented  the  King  from  kissing  the 
gospel  and  the  matter  was  later  decided  in  favour 
of  the  first  almoner. 

Abbe  de  Saint-Pierre,  first  almoner  to  Madame, 
having  published  his  book  "  Polysynodie,"  in  which 
he  boasted  of  the  advantages  of  the  plurality  of 
councils,  the  enemies  of  the  regency  tried  to  see  in 
the  work  a  satire  on  the  government  of  Louis  XIV, 
and  attempted  to  mortify  the  Regent  in  an  officer 
of  his  household.  But  being  unable  to  do  any- 
thing legal  against  Abbe  de  Saint-Pierre,  they 
plotted  in  the  Academic  Franchise  of  which  he 
was  a  member  and  had  him  excluded.  He  did  not 
continue  less  the  friend  of  scholarly  academicians 
who  maintained  that  his  place  would  not  be  filled 
until  his  death. 

A  very  important  affair  was  at  that  time 
promptly  settled  because  it  was  well  handled. 
There  were  three  archbishops,  twelve  bishops  and 
a  number  of  abbes  to  whom  the  pope  refused  bulls 
if  they  did  not  submit  to  certain  conditions  contrary 
to  our  liberties.  A  few  of  the  prelates  named 


144    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

did  not  object  too  much,  but  others,  more  French, 
complained  against  this  servitude.  The  Regent 
forbade  Cardinal  de  la  Tremouille,  our  ambassa- 
dor at  Rome,  to  receive  any  of  these  bulls  unless 
all  were  given,  and  at  the  same  time  named  a  com- 
mission taken  from  the  regency  council  to  resolve 
on  the  means  of  doing  without  the  pope,  in  case  of 
stubbornness  on  his  part.  Hennequin,  Petitpied 
and  Legros,  doctors  of  the  Sdrbonne,  supplied  to 
the  commissaries  some  instructive  memorials  on  the 
matter,  but  the  commission  had  no  occasion  to 
work.  Hardly  had  Rome  heard  of  the  affair 
when  it  was  filled  with  consternation.  The  pope 
sent  a  messenger  immediately,  who  brought  all  the 
bulls.  Blank  ones  would  have  been  sent  had  they 
been  asked  for. 

The  negotiations  regarding  the  differences  be- 
tween the  Emperor  and  Spain  continued  that  year 
with  the  greatest  animation.  The  Emperor  did 
not  wish  to  give  up  any  of  his  pretensions  on  sev- 
eral States  of  the  Spanish  succession.  Alberoni, 
flattering  himself  to  recover  all  that  had  belonged 
to  the  Spanish  branch  of  the  House  of  Austria,  re- 
ferred to  the  Emperor  in  all  his  manifestos,  only 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     145 

as  archduke.  Alberoni  put  into  his  measures  a 
haughtiness  which  was  not  of  a  common  soul  and 
which  led  each  one  of  the  powers  to  believe  that 
that  minister  might  be  sure  of  all  the  others. 

Alberoni  wanted  as  preliminaries:  first,  that 
the  Emperor  make  an  absolute  renunciation  of  all 
the  States  of  which  Philip  V  was  actually  pos- 
sessor; second,  that  the  houses  of  Medicis  and  of 
Farnese  having  died  out,  the  children  of  the 
Queen,  heiress  of  these  two  houses,  should  suc- 
ceed to  them.  He  expected  finally  to  drive  out 
all  the  Germans  from  Italy  and  was  making  the 
greatest  preparations  for  war. 

The  Duchesse  de  Saint-Pierre,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Queen  of  Spain  by  Alberoni,  told 
me  that  he  had  assured  her  that  he  only  made  war 
to  obey  Philip  V;  but  he  certainly  deceives:  Philip 
was  not  in  a  condition  to  have  a  will  of  his  own. 
Constantly  frightened  by  the  image  of  death,  he 
confessed  every  moment,  and  Father  d'Aubenton, 
always  near  the  prince's  bed,  left  him  only  when 
he  was  asleep.  Besides,  Alberoni  displayed  the 
most  absolute  authority  and  declared  to  the  State 


146    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

secretaries  that  if  they  deviated  from  his  orders, 
they  would  pay  for  it  with  their  heads. 

Conditions  have  so  changed,  the  state  of 
Europe  is  so  different  to-day,  that  the  details  of 
the  negotiations  of  those  times  would  now  interest 
no  one;  but  the  intrigues,  the  artifices  of  ministers, 
the  trickery  of  Courts  being  of  all  places  and  times, 
one  can,  by  describing  what  has  occurred,  give  an. 
idea  of  what  takes  place  daily. 

Alberoni  having  had  himself  appointed  Arch- 
bishop of  Seville,  the  pope  dared  not  give  him  any 
bulls,  in  the  fear  of  irritating  the  Emperor  more 
and  more;  and  Alberoni,  unable  to  obtain  them, 
took  possession  and  enjoyed  at  the  same  time,  the 
revenues  of  the  churches  of  Seville  and  of  Malaga. 

The  pontiff  threatened  him  with  ecclesiastical 
censures.  Alberoni  affecting  a  hypocritical  sensi- 
tiveness at  these  threats,  replied  that  he  thought 
the  Holy-Father  too  prudent  to  undertake  against 
the  absolute  minister  of  a  great  monarchy  what  he 
dared  not  do  against  Cardinal  de  Noailles,  head 
of  a  handful  of  heretics. 

However,  he  had  the  fleet  leave  Spain,  and  it 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     147 

arrived  in  Sicily.  The  Marquis  de  Lede,  who 
commanded  it,  took  possession  of  the  chateau  of 
Palermo;  but  as  the  outcome  of  the  operations  did 
not  respond  to  Alberoni's  impetuosity,  and  as  Lede 
excused  himself  on  the  necessity  of  sparing  the 
soldier,  Alberoni  humanely  wrote  to  him  that 
soldiers  are  made  to  die  when  required. 

The  lack  of  deference  of  this  minister  for  the 
mediation  of  the  different  powers  caused  the  con- 
clusion of  the  treaty  of  the  quadruple  alliance  be- 
tween France,  the  Emperor,  England  and  Holland. 
Alberoni,  furious  against  the  Regent,  sought  by 
all  possible  means  to  excite  trouble  in  France  and 
to  profit  by  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  Parliament. 

The  excitement  there  was  very  great,  and  an 
edict  of  the  month  of  May,  on  the  currency,  very 
detrimental  to  the  public,  increased  it  still  more. 
The  Parliament  having  made  remonstrances  with- 
out success,  forbade  by  a  decree  the  execution  of 
the  edict.  The  regency  council  broke  the  Parlia- 
ment's decree  as  an  attack  on  royal  authority,  but 
that  did  not  win  it  more  respect.  The  Parliament 
sent  for  the  mayor,  the  six  trade  bodies  and  the 
principal  bankers  to  have  them  render  an  account 


;i48  SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

of  the  state  of  the  city's  revenues  and  of  the  in- 
conveniences of  the  edict  on  the  currency,  and 
wanted  to  go  into  all  the  departments  of  the  ad- 
ministration. 

The  public,  who  think  they  see  protectors  in 
magistrates,  applauded  their  measures;  excitement 
was  gaining  on  all  minds,  and  a  circumstance,  more 
important  than  it  seems,  contributed  to  it.  The 
memoirs  of  Cardinal  de  Retz  had  just  appeared. 
Everyone  read  them  with  avidity;  the  majority, 
possessed  by  a  spirit  of  liberty,  flattered  themselves 
with  seeing  a  renewal  of  the  Fronde  and  to  play 
a  part  in  it.  The  Parliament,  whose  proceedings 
are  not  always  so  regular  as  its  complaints  are 
just,  sought  to  dictate  to  the  Regent. 

The  ancient  Court  of  Inquiry  being  revived, 
asked  as  during  the  ministry  of  Louis  XIV,  the  an- 
nexation of  the  other  superior  courts.  The  latter 
excused  themselves  and  contented  themselves  with 
making  remonstrances.  The  Parliament  re- 
doubled its  own  and  omitted  nothing  to  inflame 
the  public  mind;  but  the  nation's  spirit  was  no 
longer  the  same.  An  absolute  reign  of  seventy- 
two  years  had  bent  two  or  three  generations  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     149 

obedience  and  fear.  The  most  ruinous  edicts  only 
produced  murmurs  and  songs. 

Yet  the  Regent  was  not  at  ease;  the  French 
people  is  one  that  a  single  instant  can  either  re- 
generate or  corrupt,  and  the  dissolute  life  of  the 
Regent  injured  him  more  than  he  imagined.  His 
affectation  of  impiety  excited  the  contempt  of  the 
wise,  the  indignation  of  religious  men,  and  ac- 
credited the  imputation  of  the  crimes  of  which  he 
was  believed  capable. 

The  profusion  of  favours  to  courtiers  embittered 
the  misery  of  the  people  and  did  not  win  for  him 
the  gratitude  of  anyone;  his  bounties  were  at- 
tributed only  to  weakness  and  to  fear  when  they 
were  seen  bestowed  equally  on  friends  and  foes. 
The  majority  of  his  intimates,  such  as  d'Effiat, 
Canillac,  Bezons,  Huxelles,  had  long  been  friendly 
with  the  Due  du  Maine. 

A  habit  of  respect  for  the  wishes  of  the  late 
King  and  the  disorder  of  affairs  made  people  re- 
gret that  the  provisions  of  the  will  had  not  been 
carried  out.  Fear  was  entertained  for  the  life 
of  the  young  King;  it  would  have  been  considered 
safer  in  the  hands  of  a  prince  not  so  nearly  allied 


150     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

to  the  crown  as  was  the  Regent,  and  his  impru- 
dences authorised  the  slanders  fomented  by  the 
partisans  of  the  old  Court.  The  public  applauded 
the  undertakings  of  the  Parliament,  which  they 
considered  as  just  and  necessary  in  the  circum- 
stances in  which  the  State  found  itself. 

Premier  President  de  Mesmes  strove  only  to 
maintain  his  position  between  his  assembly  and  the 
Regent  from  whom  he  received  prodigious  sums 
of  money  which  he  spent  with  a  magnificence 
which  always  produces  consideration.  The 
Regent  knew  him  well,  but  he  counted  upon  con- 
trolling him  by  dint  of  money,  and  that  it  would 
only  be  a  question  of  price. 

He  supposed  also  that  that  magistrate  could 
also  hold  back  or  push  his  assembly  forward,  in 
which  matter  he  was  mistaken.  Mathieu  Mole, 
with  the  best  intentions  known  and  the  respect  due 
to  his  virtue,  was  unable  to  moderate  the  mass 
of  the  Parliament  during  the  Fronde.  There- 
fore it  happened  that  de  Mesmes  was  deserted  by 
the  commissions  every  time  he  undertook  to  rule 
them.  He  then  took  advantage  of  this  to  draw 
new  sums  from  the  Regent,  and  only  brought  back 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    151 

the   fugitives   by  participating  in  tKeir  excesses. 

The  Regent  must  have  known  that  one  is  never 
sure  of  those  who  sell  themselves,  and  that  the 
premier  president  had  been  for  all  time  devoted 
to  the  Due  du  Maine  by  both  taste  and  interest. 
Indeed,  in  the  desire  which  the  Parliament  showed 
to  share  the  royal  authority,  it  must  have  preferred 
to  the  Regent  the  Due  du  Maine  who,  not  having 
the  same  rights  of  birth,  would  be  at  the  head  of 
the  government  only  a  member  or  an  instrument 
of  the  body  which  had  elevated  him.  What  the 
Regent  had  already  lost  of  his  authority  caused 
his  enemies  to  believe  that  he  could  be  totally 
stripped  of  it;  and  those  who  should  have  been 
attached  to  him  made  arrangements  accordingly,, 
well  determined  to  follow  fortune. 

The  dissatisfaction  of  the  capital  was  gaining  in 
the  provinces.  The  Parliament  of  Rennes  had 
openly  declared  itself  in  favour  of  that  of  Paris. 
The  Etats  of  Brittany  which  were  being  held  then, 
were  very  stormy,  and  the  estrangement  of  minds 
had  tended  that  way  since  the  preceding  year. 

Marshal  de  Montesquiou,  governor  in  Brit- 
tany, in  holding  the  Etats  at  Dinan,  began  rather 


152     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

badly  with  the  nobility.  Four  or  five  hundred 
noblemen  went  to  meet  him  at  some  distance  from 
the  city.  They  offered  themselves  as  a  cortege, 
not  doubting  but  that  he  would  mount  his  horse 
and  ride  into  the  city  at  their  head.  He  contented 
himself  with  saluting  them  from  his  chaise  and 
continued  on  his  way  without  offering  the  slightest 
excuse.  They  were  shocked,  and  with  reason,  at 
this  first  reception.  The  following  day  he  did  as 
badly.  The  committee  of  the  three  orders  having 
gone  on  foot  to  invite  him  to  accompany  them 
to  the  opening  of  the  Etats,  instead  of  walking  at 
their  head,  he  entered  his  sedan-chair,  leaving  the 
committee  to  follow  him  as  they  had  come.  From 
that  moment  both  sides  resorted  to  disagreeable 
behaviour. 

The  day  after  the  opening  of  the  Etats,  the  re- 
quest of  the  free  gift  is  made  by  the  commissary  in 
presence  of  the  commander  and  of  the  other  King's 
commissaries;  after  which  they  withdraw  to  allow 
the  Etats  to  deliberate  on  the  subject.  Formerly, 
before  answering  the  request,  the  Etats  examined 
the  state  of  their  funds  and  sometimes  contested 
lengthily  on  the  apportionment  of  the  sum.  It 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     153 

happened,  under  governorship  of  the  Due  de 
Chaulnes  and  in  the  prosperous  days  of  France, 
that  the  Etats,  carried  away  by  their  zeal,  granted 
the  free  gift  by  acclamation  and  without  delibera- 
tion. This  example  was  imitated  in  the  succeed- 
ing Etats  and  became  a  usage  which  continued 
until  1717.  Then  the  Etats,  exhausted  by  the 
efforts  they  had  made  during  the  war  and  already 
disaffected  by  Marshal  de  Montesquieu,  wished, 
before  granting  anything,  to  examine  the  state  of 
their  affairs.  The  marshal  was  offended  at  this, 
and  for  a  few  days  strove  to  bring  the  Etats  to 
acclamation  and,  being  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts, 
he  broke  up  the  Assembly. 

Several  noblemen  of  the  Etats  and  Parliament 
were  exiled,  which  did  not  pacify  the  minds  of  the 
others. 

However  the  Etats  were  re-assembled  in  1718, 
and  a  middle  course  was  taken  which  was  that  the 
Etats  were  to  deliberate  on  the  free  gift  during  the 
sitting  in  which  it  was  called,  and  that  nothing  else 
could  be  considered  until  it  was  granted.  This 
procedure  exists  to  this  day. 

If  the  Etats  of  1718  were  not  broken  up,  they 


154     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

were  hardly  more  tranquil;  the  attorney-general 
syndic  was  exiled  and  minds  were  more  estranged 
than  ever.  We  shall  see  the  outcome  of  this. 

The  Parliament  of  Paris,  proud  of  its  success, 
excited  by  the  public  cry,  and  calculating  its  efforts 
on  the  weakness  of  the  Regent,  thought  that  noth- 
ing could  hinder  it,  and  rendered  the  celebrated 
edict  of  the  I2th  of  August,  by  which  it  stopped 
all  operations  of  the  Bank  and  forbade  all  fqr- 
eigners,  even  naturalised,  to  meddle  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  royal  money,  etc. 

Not  content  with  having  rendered  this  edict, 
the  Parliament  sent  the  King's  people  to  ask  of 
the  Regent  an  account  of  the  bills  which  had 
passed  at  the  Chamber  of  Justice,  at  the  Com- 
pagnie  d'Occident  or  at  the  Mint.  The  Parlia- 
ment put  off  for  a  few  days  the  publication  of  its 
decree  because  it  wished  secretly  to  investigate 
Law's  suit.  Commissaries,  appointed  by  the 
judge,  had  already  heard  the  witnesses,  and  no  less 
was  proposed  than  to  arrest  the  culprit,  end  his 
trial  within  two  hours,  hang  him  in  the  courtyard 
of  the  palace,  with  the  gates  closed,  and  to  open 
them  then  to  exhibit  the  corpse  to  the  public. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     155 

The  decree  and  the  project  of  the  Parliament 
were  revealed  to  the  Regent.  It  is  claimed  that 
this  was  done  by  President  Dadun  who,  since,  has 
been  controller-general.  However  that  may  be, 
the  Regent  was  informed  of  it,  and  when  the 
King's  people  came,  on  August  22,  to  submit  to 
him  the  proposition  with  which  they  were  charged 
with  regard  to  the  State  bills,  he  contented  himself 
with  listening  to  them  and  without  replying,  re- 
entered  his  closet.  This  cold  and  contemptuous 
silence  disconcerted  them  more  than  a  sharp 
reply. 

On  the  report  of  the  matter  made  to  the  Par- 
liament, some  suspected  that  the  Regent  contem- 
plated a  vigorous  course,  such  as  having  the  leaders 
of  the  uprising  seized,  or  the  holding  of  a  bed 
of  justice.  Others  maintained  that  the  prince 
would  dare  do  neither  one  thing  nor  the  other  in 
the  midst  of  a  discontented  people. 

The  Regent,  incensed  at  the  undertakings  of 
the  Parliament,  had  as  yet  no  fixed  project.  Sev- 
eral of  those  who  surrounded  him,  friends  of  the 
premier  president,  kept  the  Regent  in  fear  of  the 
magistracy,  and  Marshal  de  Villeroi  sought  only 


156     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY, 

to  render  him  odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  public. 
The  Due  de  Noailles,  deprived  of  the  finances  by 
the  keeper  of  the  seals  and  by  Law,  desired  the 
ruin  of  both.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Due  de 
Saint-Simon,  full  of  furious  contempt  for  the  long 
robe,  saw  only  with  anger  the  Regent's  considera- 
tion for  the  Parliament,  and  spoke  of  it  as  of  an 
assembly  of  the  bourgeois  which  the  least  act  of 
authority  could  cause  to  return  to  their  duty.  The 
Regent  would  have  very  much  liked  to  see  it  in 
the  same  light,  but  the  advices  of  Saint-Simon,  em- 
bittered against  the  Parliament  on  account  of  the 
prerogatives  of  the  dukes,  were  suspicious  to  him. 
The  indecision  of  the  Regent  threw  Law  into 
the  most  cruel  anguish.  He  feared  to  be  hanged 
while  the  means  of  saving  him  from  this  fate  were 
so  slowly  sought,  and,  not  feeling  safe  at  the  Bank, 
he  took  refuge  in  the  Palais-Royal.  Abbe  Du- 
bois,  even  more  deserving  of  hanging  than  Law, 
felt  that  he  might  become  the  second  victim  of 
the  public,  that  all  his  existence  depended  solely 
on  his  master's  power,  and  that,  if  it  were  once 
destroyed,  the  dignities  of  which  the  minister  was 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     157 

invested,  far  from  saving  him,  would  be  made  his 
foremost  crime. 

The  new  keeper  of  the  seals  was  well  aware  how 
offended  was  the  Parliament  at  seeing  itself  sub- 
ordinated to  him  whom  it  had  so  long  treated  as 
a  subaltern.  D'Argenson,  while  lieutenant  of 
police,  had  on  several  occasions  been  summoned  to 
the  bar  of  the  court,  and  there,  standing  and  bare- 
headed, he  had  received  reprimands  with  more 
respect  than  timidity  and  with  an  interior  contempt 
which  he  was  to-day  in  a  position  to  show.  He 
was  the  least  proud  of  men,  but  the  most  firm,  and 
full  of  expedients  in  affairs.  The  one  which 
naturally  presented  itself  was  to  destroy  in  a  bed 
of  justice  all  that  the  Parliament  had  done. 

The  keeper  of  the  seals,  in  order  to  maintain 
the  King's  authority,  and  Abbe  Dubois,  for  less 
noble  motives,  but  not  less  powerful,  besieging  the 
Regent,  made  him  ashamed  of  his  weakness.  The 
Due  de  Saint-Simon  seconded  them  earnestly,  and 
M.  le  Due  de  Bourbon,  joining  them  through  per- 
sonal interest,  the  bed  of  justice  was  resolved  upon. 

Since  M.  le  Due  Bourbon  was  of  age,  it  was 


158     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

with  great  impatience  that  he  saw  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  King's  education  in  the  hands  of  the 
Due  du  Maine,  claiming  that  that  place  only 
should  belong  to  the  first  prince  of  the  blood  of 
age,  and  that  since  the  decree  of  1717,  the  Due 
du  Maine  had  only  the  honours  of  prince,  and  was 
no  longer  prince  of  the  blood. 

The  Regent,  not  daring  to  refuse  him  personally, 
charged  Saint-Simon  to  dissuade  him  from  a  pre- 
tension which  only  would  multiply  the  malcontents. 
Vainly  did  Saint-Simon  picture  to  M.  le  Due 
the  dangers  of  a  civil  war,  that  the  change  of 
superintendent  did  not  require  a  bed  of  justice, 
that  the  Regent  promised,  on  his  honour,  and  even 
in  writing,  to  satisfy  M.  le  due,  when  the  affairs  of 
State  should  be  settled:  the  latter  replied  that  he 
had  no  more  faith  in  the  writing  than  he  did  in 
the  word  of  the  Regent;  that  he  did  not  wish  to 
give  the  Due  du  Maine  the  opportunity  to  estab- 
lish himself  in  the  King's  mind,  a  thing  which 
would  infallibly  happen  if  he  remained  with  him 
until  his  majority,  and  that  it  was  the  part  of  the 
Regent  to  see  whether  he  preferred  a  legitimated 
prince  to  a  prince  of  the  blood  whose  constant 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     159 

friendship  or  hatred  would  be  the  price  of  the  ac- 
ceptation or  the  refusal  of  his  request. 

The  most  virtuous  people  of  the  Court  never 
forget  their  private  interests.  The  Due  de  Saint- 
Simon  seeing  the  obstinacy  of  M.  le  due,  wished 
to  turn  it  to  his  own  account.  "  Monsieur,"  said 
he  to  him,  "  since  no  consideration  can  turn  you 
from  your  project,  I  am  going  to  give  you  some 
facilities  to  carry  it  out.  Take  away  from  the 
legitimated  all  the  outside  appearance  of  princes  of 
the  blood,  by  having  them  reduced  to  the  rank  of 
their  peerage;  then  the  superintendence  of  educa- 
tion falls  of  itself.  Marshal  de  Villeroi  can  no 
longer  be  subordinated  to  his  equal  even  in  the 
peerage.  You  will  be  able,  in  your  request,  to 
make  use  of  this  consideration,  with  a  word  of 
praise  for  Marshal  de  Villeroi,  whose  vanity  will 
be  flattered  by  it.  In  that  way  you  gain  a  partisan 
in  the  person  of  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  cabal,  you 
strengthen  yourself  with  the  dukes  and  you  attach 
them  all  to  yourself.  Not  one  of  them  but  will 
look  upon  you  as  the  author  of  the  intermediate 
rank  left  to  the  legitimated.  M.  le  Regent,  either 
to  excuse  himself  towards  the  peers,  or  to  cast 


160    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

on  you  their  resentment,  has  not  permitted  them 
to  ignore  that  you  alone  were  opposed  to  the  re- 
duction of  the  legitimated  to  the  rank  of  their 
peerage,  when  their  right  of  succession  to  the 
throne  was  taken  from  them.  You  are  not  in- 
different to  having  so  considerable  a  body  as  a 
friend  or  an  enemy.  You  have  just  told  me  that 
unalterable  resentment  or  an  inviolate  attachment 
to  M.  le  Regent  would  be  the  price  of  the  refusal 
or  granting  of  your  request :  be  assured  that  all  the 
peers  through  me  make  the  same  protestation  with 
regard  to  you,  on  the  subject  of  the  reduction  of 
the  legitimated." 

M.  le  due  at  once  agreed  to  the  proposition  of 
the  Due  de  Saint-Simon.  "  I  consent,"  he  added, 
"  to  the  reduction  of  the  legitimated,  but  you  have 
shown  them  to  me  so  formidable,  through  their 
establishments  and  the  accumulation  of  their 
dignities,  that  they  must  be  stripped  totally  and 
nothing  left  to  them  but  what  shall  be  necessary  to 
maintain  their  rank  of  peer.  It  is  with  regret  that 
I  sacrifice  the  Comte  de  Toulouse,  but  the  danger 
of  allowing  the  Due  du  Maine  to  continue  as  h« 
is,  renders  the  sacrifice  necessary.  Besides,  I  want 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     161 

for  my  brother,  the  Comte  de  Charolais,  a  gov- 
ernorship befitting  his  birth,  and  there  is  none 
vacant;  the  spoils  of  the  Due  du  Maine  will  pro- 
cure one  for  him." 

"  You  are  going  a  little  too  far,  monsieur,"  re- 
plied Saint-Simon;  "  it  is  unjust  to  strip  any  one, 
without  his  having  been  declared  a  criminal.  If 
such  violence  should  be  resorted  to,  no  one  in  this 
kingdom  could  consider  himself  safe.  All  those 
who  enjoy  the  least  important  places  would  look 
upon  the  cause  of  the  legitimated  as  their  own; 
I  myself  would  join  it  and  the  uprising  would  be- 
come general.  At  the  death  of  the  King,  the 
legitimated  could  have  been  charged  with  the 
crime  of  lese-majeste  against  the  crown,  for  hav- 
ing had  themselves  declared  able  to  succeed  to  it. 
That  in  allowing  them  their  lives,  liberty  and 
property,  they  should  have  been  granted  the  sole 
rank  of  duke  and  peer,  out  of  respect  for  the  blood 
of  their  father,  and  that  all  else  should  have  been 
taken  from  them,  all  was  just  then.  But  to-day 
that  their  establishments  have  been  confirmed,  you 
can  attack  them  only  in  the  vice  of  their  birth  and 
reduce  them  to  the  rank  of  their  peerage.  M.  le 


162     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Comte  de  Charolais  will  not  lack  establishments, 
and  you  will  be  able  to  procure  them  for  him,  with- 
out having  recourse  to  injustice  and  to  violence. 
With  regard  to  the  Comte  de  Toulouse,  there  is 
a  very  simple  way  of  distinguishing  him  from  his 
brother;  it  is  to  have  them  both  reduced  by  an 
edict,  and  immediately  to  re-establish,  by  a  dec- 
laration, the  Comte  de  Toulouse  to  the  rank  which 
he  enjoys  to-day,  without  the  honours  ever  passing 
to  his  posterity.  In  this  manner,  you  do  justice  to 
merit,  and  you  disunite  the  two  brothers.  What- 
ever deference  the  Comte  de  Toulouse  may  have 
for  his  elder,  he  is  too  wise  to  ally  himself  to  the 
resentment  of  his  brother  and  to  the  fury  of  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine.  And,  if  the  Comte  de  Tou- 
louse allowed  himself  to  be  lured  to  the  extent  of 
forgetting  his  duty,  he  would  be  shorn  of  all  with 
the  approbation  of  the  public." 

M.  le  due,  delighted  at  being  able  to  reconcile 
his  hatred  against  the  Due  du  Maine  with  his 
friendship  for  the  Comte  de  Toulouse,  consented 
to  all  that  Saint-Simon  proposed,  and  the  latter 
taking  advantage  of  M.  le  due's  dispositions: 
"  It  is  not  sufficient,"  said  he  to  him,  "  to  consent; 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     163 

you  must  make  it  your  own  personal  affair  with  the 
Regent.  It  is  you  who  have  lost  the  dukes  and 
peers,  it  is  for  you  to  recover  them  and  cause 
gratitude  to  follow  resentment.  I  demand  your 
word  on  the  matter  because  I  know  that  one  can 
depend  on  it."  M.  le  due  gave  it  and  kept  it. 
Saint-Simon  came  to  render  to  the  Regent  an  ac- 
count of  his  conference  with  M.  le  due;  but  he 
did  not  at  first  declare  to  him  the  engagement 
that  that  prince  had  taken  in  favour  of  the  peers, 
and  contented  himself  with  reminding  him  how 
often  he  had  made  him  hope  the  re-establishment 
of  the  peers.  The  Regent,  wishing  to  make  use 
of  subterfuge,  promised  much  more  than  he 
thought,  transferred  the  whole  matter  to  M.  le 
due  and  said  that  if  he  consented  to  it,  he,  the 
Regent,  would  be  delighted.  The  Due  de  Saint- 
Simon  allowed  him  to  paraphrase  his  good  will  for 
the  peers,  and  when  he  saw  him  well  involved,  he 
declared  to  him  that  M.  le  due  would  be  the 
more  inclined  to  it  that  he  wished  to  unload  him- 
self of  the  hatred  of  the  peers  of  which  he  had 
been  made  the  object.  The  Regent  suddenly  be- 
came sombre  and  dreamy.  Saint-Simon  did  not 


164    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

give  him  time  to  recover,  but  urged  him  earnestly, 
and  finally  compelled  him  to  say,  with  the  air  of 
a  man  who  is  just  coming  to,  that  he  concurred 
with  pleasure  to  all  that  M.  le  due  might  wish 
in  favour  of  the  peers.  Saint-Simon  thereupon 
left  him,  counting  much  less  on  him,  however,  than 
on  M.  le  due.  In  fact,  the  latter  charged  Millain, 
for  a  long  time  secretary  to  Chancellor  de  Pont- 
chartrain,  a  very  intelligent  man,  and  who,  since 
his  master's  retirement,  had  attached  himself  to 
the  house  of  Conde,  to  draw  up  the  project  of  the 
reduction  of  the  legitimated. 

All  that  was  needed  now  was  to  take  the  neces- 
sary measures  for  the  bed  of  justice  of  which  the 
Parliament  was  not  to  be  apprised  before  the  morn- 
ing of  the  very  day.  The  only  ones  in  the  secret 
were  the  keeper  of  the  seals,  the  Dues  de  Saint- 
Simon  and  de  la  Force,  Law,  Fagon,  and  Abbe 
Dubois.  The  last,  whose  only  support  was  the 
Regent,  desired  to  turn  the  affair  into  a  negotia- 
tion, without  playing  the  mediator,  and  proposed 
to  put  off  until  Saint-Martin's  Day  the  annulment 
of  the  decrees  of  the  Parliament.  It  was  to  be 
feared  that  this  advice,  so  much  in  accord  with  the 


LOUIS  XV  AS  A  CHILD 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     165 

laxity  of  the  Regent,  might  win,  but  the  keeper 
of  the  seals,  always  firm,  Saint-Simon  more  earnest 
than  ever,  and  la  Force,  allied  themselves  against 
the  abbe,  and  caused  the  bed  of  justice  to  be  de- 
cided for  Friday  the  26th,  the  morrow  of  Saint- 
Louis  day. 

All  obstacles  were  not  brushed  away.  The 
thought  came  that  the  Due  du  Maine  and  Marshal 
de  Villeroi,  at  the  first  proposition  of  a  bed  of 
justice,  would  allege  the  fear  of  exposing  the 
King's  health  to  the  heat,  the  fatigue,  and  the  bad 
air  of  the  city,  where  there  then  prevailed  a  good 
deal  of  smallpox;  that  they  would  draw  up  a 
document  of  their  remonstrances  and  with  it  would 
frighten  a  child  of  eight  years  who  would  refuse 
to  go  to  Parliament.  These  reflections  were  be- 
ginning to  discourage  the  committee,  when  Saint- 
Simon  proposed  to  hold  the  bed  of  justice  at  the 
Tuileries.  This  expedient  reanimated  all  the 
actors.  The  King's  health  was  no  longer  a  pre- 
text. Although  master  everywhere,  he  would 
seem  even  more  so  in  his  palace;  the  imagination 
of  the  magistrates  would  be  more  struck  by  it. 
They  would  feel  more  strange  and  less  assured 


166    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

there  than  in  the  accustomed  seats.  Som'e  diffi- 
culties still  remained.  It  was  necessary,  before  the 
bed  of  justice,  to  make  a  report  to  the  regency 
council  of  the  decrees,  edicts  and  declarations 
which  were  to  be  recorded.  The  legitimated  were 
of  this  council,  the  majority  was  devoted  to  them, 
resolutions  so  important  required  the  approval  of 
at  least  the  majority  and  this  could  not  be  counted 
upon.  M.  le  due  claimed  that  the  only  thing  to 
be  reported  to  the  council  was  the  decree  of  annul- 
ment and  that  nothing  was  to  be  said  of  the 
others,  but  there  was  not  the  less  risk  on  that  ac- 
count: all  the  members  of  the  council,  who  sat  at 
the  bed  of  justice,  already  opposed  to  the  affair, 
would  be  offended  at  the  secrecy.  The  Due  du 
Maine  and  his  partisans  would  not  fail  to  declare 
that  nothing  had  been  communicated  to  the  council, 
and  would  justify  what  the  Parliament  was  cease- 
lessly spreading  among  the  public,  that  all  was 
done  by  the  sole  will  of  the  Regent,  in  opposition 
to  the  authentic  promise  made  to  conform  himself 
to  the  majority  of  votes,  a  promise  which  had 
served  as  a  foundation  of  the  regency. 

Marshal  de  Villeroi,  it  was  said,  will  call  to  wit- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     167 

ness  the  ghost  of  the  old  King,  will  shed  tears,  will 
talk  irrationally,  but  in  pathetic  tones  more  con- 
tagious than  reasons.  The  daring  Villars,  the 
only  French  general,  decorated  with  victories, 
author  or  instrument  of  the  salvation  of  France  at 
Denain,  will  arise  with  a  military  eloquence  quite 
natural  to  him,  and  which  persuades  and  carries 
away.  The  Parliament  seeing  itself  supported, 
will  recover  its  spirits.  The  presence  of  an  eight- 
year  old  King,  far  from  overawing  them  may  per- 
haps even  turn  to  their  advantage.  If  this  child, 
precious  to  the  State,  who  will  have  come  to  such 
an  assembly  as  to  a  spectacle,  chances  to  be 
frightened  at  so  novel  a  tumult,  if  he  happens  to 
let  himself  be  moved  by  the  tears  of  his  old  tutor, 
if  he  himself  sheds  some,  to  what  account  may  they 
not  be  turned?  The  Regent  will  be  represented 
as  a  tyrant  who  takes  advantage  of  the  name  and 
authority  of  a  child-King. 

These  considerations  impressed  the  Regent,  who 
was  very  near  drawing  back.  M.  le  due  less  en- 
lightened, but  with  an  insurmountable  obstinacy, 
strengthened  him  in  his  first  decision,  declaring 
that,  were  a  civil  war  to  be  the  outcome,  he  pre- 


168     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

ferred  it  much  more  during  a  minority  than  under 
a  King  of  age. 

It  was  finally  decided  that  the  material  for  the 
bed  of  justice  would  be  collected  secretly;  that  it 
would  be  put  together  only  on  the  very  day  at  the 
Tuileries,  in  two  hours'  time;  that  the  Parliament, 
the  peers  and  the  officers  of  the  crown  would  only 
be  notified  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning;  that  the 
council  would  meet  at  eight,  that  an  account  would 
be  rendered  of  the  decree  of  annulment  only;  and 
that  the  other,  all  ready  and  sealed,  would  only  be 
produced  at  the  bed  of  justice. 

The  fear  of  the  Regent  was  much  allayed  by 
that  shown  by  the  Parliament,  the  Due  du  Maine 
and  Marshal  de  Villerol.  One  side  of  the  scale 
can  not  go  down  without  the  other  rising.  The 
Regent  became  firm  as  he  noticed  his  adversaries 
weaken.  The  Due  du  Maine,  having  asked  him 
through  the  Comte  de  Toulouse  if  there  was  any 
foundation  in  the  rumour  spread  that  he,  Due  du 
Maine,  was  to  be  arrested,  showed  by  that  that  he 
had  something  else  to  reproach  himself  for  beside 
an  idle  dissatisfaction,  and  the  Regent's  reply  was 
not  the  kind  to  make  him  feel  at  ease.  Mar- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    169 

shal  de  Villeroi,  with  an  embarrassed  expression, 
asking  enlightenment  on  the  same  subject,  the  Re- 
gent told  him  that  he  might  be  reassured  and  per- 
suaded him  but  little;  therefore  he  did  not  wish  to 
dissipate  all  his  fears.  The  marshal  spoke  of  it  to 
Abbe  Dubois,  much  astonished  to  see  the  arrogance 
of  the  haughty  lord  vanish  before  him.  The  Par- 
liament's conduct  was  even  more  ridiculous.  Law, 
whom  it  wished  to  hang  three  days  before,  left  his 
shelter  in  the  Palais-Royal,  boldly  returned  to  his 
house,  and  there  received  the  advances  of  Parlia- 
ment. The  Due  d'Aumont,  as  eager  for  money  as 
his  friend  the  premier  president,  and  seeking  to 
please  Law,  waited  on  him,  told  him  that  there  was 
but  a  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  Parliament,  • 
and  that  he,  Due  d'Aumont,  wished  to  smooth 
over  the  entire  matter.  He  treated  a  convulsion 
in  the  State  as  a  quarrel  of  classes  and  boasted 
specially  of  being  a  disinterested  mediator.  Law, 
knowing  how  matters  stood  regarding  the  disin- 
terestedness of  our  courtiers,  agreed  to  a  meeting 
with  this  one  for  the  2yth,  because  all  was  to  be 
ended  on  the  26th. 

The  Regent  saw  clearly  that  the  cabal  was  dis- 


170    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

concerted.  He  had  a  mind  to  strike  at  the  premier 
president,  but  he  was  made  to  see  that  it  was  bet- 
ter to  make  the  Assembly  suspicious  by  pretending 
that  he  was  in  league  with  the  Court. 

Thursday  the  25th  was  employed  in  taking  the 
necessary  measures.  It  was  agreed :  first,  that  the 
bed  of  justice  would  be  held  with  open  doors,  be- 
cause affairs  would  then  be  discussed  as  at  grand 
audiences,  and  that  the  keeper  of  the  seals,  taking 
the  votes  quietly,  would  report  them  as  he  wished ; 
second,  that  M.  le  due,  when  the  question  of  super- 
intendence should  come  up,  would  leave  the  hall  as 
an  interested  party,  which  would  oblige  the  legiti- 
mated to  leave  also. 

To  ward  off  any  trouble,  all  contingencies  had 
been  provided  for.  If  the  Parliament  refused  to 
come,  the  interdiction  was  ready,  with  the  attribu- 
tion of  the  causes  to  the  grand  council.  If  a  part 
came,  and  another  did  not  come,  those  who  stayed 
away  were  to  be  suspended.  If  the  Parliament, 
having  come,  refused  to  concur,  to  proceed.  If, 
not  content  with  not  concurring,  it  left  the  hall, 
hold  the  bed  of  justice  anyway,  and,  eight  days 
after,  hold  another  at  the  grand  council,  to  record 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     171 

all.  If  the  legitimated  or  anyone  of  their  party 
should  create  any  disturbance,  arrest  them  at  the 
meeting  or  on  leaving,  according  to  the  signals  to 
be  agreed  upon  with  the  officers  of  the  gardes  du 
corps. 

The  orders  were  given  to  the  commanders  of  the 
troops  of  the  Maison  du  Roi  only  on  the  26th,  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  Due  du  Maine, 
who  was  returning  from  one  of  those  receptions 
which  were  often  given  to  his  wife,  or  which  she 
gave  herself,  was  about  to  get  into  bed  when  Con- 
tades  was  announced  to  him.  The  due,  fearing 
that  it  might  be  to  arrest  him,  asked  if  Contades 
was  alone  and  was  reassured  when  he  heard  that 
it  was  to  assemble  the  Swiss  guards. 

At  five  o'clock,  the  troops  took  up  their  posi- 
tions, and  at  six  the  Parliament  and  all  those  who 
were  to  be  at  the  bed  of  justice,  already  awakened 
by  the  noise  of  the  drums,  received  the  lettres-de- 
cachet  and  the  invitations.  At  eight  o'clock,  the 
regency  council  was  already  assembled  at  the  Tui- 
leries.  The  keeper  of  the  seals  was  having  ar- 
ranged in  a  private  room  all  the  paraphernalia  of 
the  seal  and,  as  cold  as  if  it  were  only  a  question  of 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

a  police  audience,  breakfasted  calmly  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  long  session  which  would  delay  his 
dinner. 

All  had  betaken  themselves  to  the  council  cham- 
ber; the  Regent  reached  there  with  a  laughing  and 
confident  face.  All  did  not  seem  so  much  at  their 
ease.  The  Due  du  Maine,  pale  and  embarrassed, 
foresaw  that  other  questions  would  come  up  be- 
sides the  annulment  of  decrees.  Several  met,  dis- 
cussed, spoke  in  whispers,  sought  to  guess  what  was 
about  to  take  place. 

The  Due  du  Maine  and  the  Comte  de  Toulouse 
had  come  in  the  peer's  cloaks,  although  they  had 
received  no  invitations.  These  had  not  been  sent 
them,  on  the  pretext  that  since  the  decree  of  1717, 
which  revoked  that  of  1714,  they  no  longer  wished 
to  attend  Parliament.  The  Regent  had  flattered 
himself  on  that  account  that  they  would  dispense 
with  the  bed  of  justice,  which  would  have  relieved 
him  greatly.  That  is  why,  addressing  the  Comte 
de  Toulouse,  he  said  to  him  in  friendly  tones: 
"  I  am  surprised  to  see  you  in  your  cloak;  I  did  not 
have  you  notified,  knowing  that  you  did  not  care  to 
attend  the  Parliament." 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     173 

"  That  is  true,"  replied  the  Comte  de  Toulouse, 
"  but  when  it  is  for  the  good  of  the  State,  I  put 
aside  all  other  considerations." 

The  Regent,  touched  by  this  reply,  took  him 
aside,  confided  all  to  him ;  and  the  Comte  de  Tou- 
louse, having  rejoined  his  brother,  told  him  enough 
so  that  they  decided  to  withdraw. 

The  Regent,  seeing  them  go  out,  judged  that 
there  was  nothing  to  hinder  the  making  of  a  report 
of  all  the  things  which  it  had  been  intended  to  con- 
ceal. There  were  twenty  at  the  meeting. 

As  soon  as  all  had  taken  their  seats,  the  Regent, 
with  an  air  of  authority,  ordered  the  keeper  of  the 
seals  to  read  his  report.  The  Regent  announced 
each  document  by  a  short  address  which  the  keeper 
of  the  seals  paraphrased  according  to  the  impor- 
tance of  the  matter. 

The  Regent,  in  this  meeting,  gave  his  opinion 
first,  in  opposition  to  the  usual  rule,  and  always 
took  the  votes  beginning  with  the  head  of  the 
council,  so  that  the  previous  speakers,  of  whom  he 
was  sure,  would  make  the  others  anticipate  the  de- 
cision to  which  they  should  come. 

When  the  vote  was  taken  on  the  decree  of  annul- 


174    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

ment,  those  who  were  constrained  by  the  obstacles 
which  were  put  in  the  way  of  the  Parliament  con- 
tented themselves  with  nodding  their  heads,  to 
show  their  acquiescence  to  the  broached  opinion. 
Marshal  de  Villeroi  simply  said  in  a  smothered 
voice,  with  regard  to  the  Parliament:  "  But  will 
it  come?  " 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  said  the  Regent  drily, 
and  raising  his  voice:  "it  has  sent  me  word  by 
des  Granges  that  it  would  obey." 

The  Regent  announced  the  edict  of  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  legitimated  to  their  rank  in  the  peerage 
by  a  speech  in  favor  of  the  peers  even  stronger 
than  the  edict  itself.  The  Due  de  Saint-Simon 
said,  that  being  an  interested  party,  he  could  not 
be  judge,  and  that,  as  sole  opinion,  he  could  only 
offer  thanks  for  the  justice  which  His  Royal  High- 
ness rendered  to  the  peers.  The  Regent,  grasping 
this  idea,  did  not  ask  the  opinion  of  the  other 
peers,  and  those  who  followed  them  voted  only 
with  a  nod.  However,  the  Due  de  Saint-Simon,  to 
obviate  what  Marshals-dukes  de  Villeroi  and  de 
Villars  might  object  if  they  should  speak,  had 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     175 

placed  on  the  table  the  request  which  the  peers  had 
presented  the  year  before  against  the  legitimated, 
and  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  two  marshals  could 
read  their  names  in  large  characters.  M.  le  due 
then  began  to  speak,  and  addressing  the  Regent, 
said  that,  since  justice  was  being  done  to  the  peers, 
he  also  claimed  the  rights  of  his  birth ;  that  M.  du 
Maine,  being  no  longer  prince  of  the  blood,  he 
could  not  retain  the  superintendence;  that  a  man 
of  the  merit  of  M.  le  Marechal  de  Villeroi  should 
not  be  preceded  by  his  junior  in  the  peerage;  that 
he,  M.  le  due,  to-day  of  age,  asked  that  place, 
which  could  not  be  refused  to  his  rank,  nor  to  his 
attachment  for  the  King,  and  that  he  would  omit 
nothing  to  profit  by  M.  de  Villeroi's  lessons  and 
deserve  his  friendship. 

The  Regent  was  the  first  to  vote;  he  said  that 
the  request  was  just,  and  casting  his  eyes  over  all, 
ordered  rather  than  took  the  opinions.  Marshal 
de  Villeroi,  making  an  effort  to  speak,  said  with  a 
sigh :  "  All  the  dispositions  of  the  late  King  are 
overthrown!  I  can  not  see  it  without  sorrow: 
M.  du  Maine  is  very  unfortunate!  " 


176    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

"  Monsieur,"  replied  the  Regent  in  quite  sharp 
tones,  "  M.  du  Maine  is  my  brother-in-law;  but  I 
prefer  an  open  to  a  concealed  enemy." 

These  few  words,  and  some  looks  cast  on  sev- 
eral, sent  terror  into  the  minds  of  those  who  had 
something  of  which  to  reproach  themselves. 

At  this  moment  the  keeper  of  the  seals  was 
called  to  the  door.  He  went  out,  returned  imme- 
diately and  whispered  to  the  Regent.  The  latter, 
whose  firmness  increased  with  the  council's  con- 
sternation, said  that  he  was  informed  that  the 
premier-president  had  proposed  not  to  go  to  the 
Tuileries,  where  no  liberty  would  be  had,  and  that 
the  question  was  being  deliberated  upon.  The 
Regent  asked  the  keeper  of  the  seals  what  should 
be  done  if  the  Parliament  formally  disobeyed. 
The  keeper  of  the  seals  replied  that  there  was 
nothing  else  to  do  other  than  to  suspend  it,  and 
made  it  clear  that  all  events  were  anticipated  and 
the  remedies  ready. 

As  soon  as  the  Parliament  was  seen  to  enter  the 
Tuileries  courtyard,  after  having  crossed  the  city 
on  foot,  the  Regent  forbade  anyone  from  leaving 
before  the  magistrates  had  taken  their  places,  so 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    177 

that  they  could  not  be  informed  of  what  the  council 
had  decided.  A  committee  went  at  once  to  the 
King,  and  having  invited  him,  he  was  conducted  to 
the  throne. 

The  Regent,  wishing  to  forestall  what  the  Mar- 
shal de  Villeroi  might  be  tempted  to  say  at  the  bed 
of  justice,  and  which  he  had  had  so  much  trouble 
to  hold  back  at  the  council  meeting,  sent  someone 
to  assure  him  of  his  esteem,  his  confidence,  had 
enough  told  him  to  dissipate  his  fear  which  some- 
times makes  people  bold,  and  not  enough  to  inspire 
him  with  courage.  Lamoignon  de  Blancmesnil, 
premier  counsel  general,  to-day  chancellor,  was  also 
enjoined  to  be  prudent :  and  he  was  told  in  a  whis- 
per that  his  entire  fortune  depended  on  the  slight- 
est ambiguity  in  his  decision. 

So  much  precaution  was  superfluous.  Conster- 
nation had  taken  possession  of  all,  from  the  Due 
du  Maine  to  the  lowest  usher  of  the  Parliament. 
Several  counsellors  had  deserted  during  the  march. 
President  de  Blamont,  who  had  so  often  played 
the  tribune  in  the  meetings  of  the  Parliament, 
fainted  on  the  stairs  of  the  Tuileries;  he  was  car- 
ried into  the  chapel,  where  the  wine  from  the  cruets 


a;8  SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

was  used  to  help  him  recover  consciousness.  But, 
not  being  in  a  condition  to  appear  at  the  session,  he 
had  himself  taken  home. 

I  shall  not  linger  over  the  formalities  of  a  bed 
of  justice ;  they  can  be  found  everywhere.  I  shall 
merely  remark  that  the  keeper  of  the  seals,  in  the 
midst  of  a  Parliament  by  which  he  was  detested, 
was  as  bold  in  his  steps,  in  his  speeches  and  his 
tone  of  voice  as  if  he  had  only  seen  about  him  so 
many  police  officers. 

After  the  reading  of  the  decree  of  annulment, 
the  premier  president  simply  asked  that  it  be  com- 
municated to  the  Parliament,  in  view  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  matter,  to  deliberate  on  it. 
Whereupon  the  keeper  of  the  seals,  having  taken 
the  King's  order  as  a  matter  of  form,  said: 
"  The  King  wishes  to  be  obeyed,  and  obeyed  at 
once."  Everything  else  passed  quietly;  the  regis- 
try having  been  made  in  the  King's  presence,  His 
Majesty  arose,  returned  to  his  apartment,  and  the 
Parliament  slipped  away  in  silence. 

As  trifles  are  better  fitted  to  make  known  the  dis- 
position of  minds  and  character  than  important 
matters,  I  shall  mention  two  incidents  which  will 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     179 

show  the  general  opinion  in  which  the  Regent  was 
held,  and  will  give  an  idea  of  his  carelessness  of 
affairs,  when  his  pleasures  were  in  question. 

When  the  Due  de  Saint-Simon  went  to  see  Fon- 
tanieu,  to  arrange  with  him  regarding  the  bed  of 
justice,  he  began  by  telling  him  that  he  came  for  an 
important  matter,  but  first  of  all  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  know  if  His  Royal  Highness  could  count 
on  him.  Fontanieu  became  pale,  not  doubting 
but  that  he  meant  to  speak  of  some  tragic  business 
of  which  he  was  unfortunately  to  be  the  instru- 
ment; he  replied  stammering  that,  so  long  as  his 
duty  would  permit  ...  he  would  be.  ... 
The  Due  de  Saint-Simon  reassured  him  by  a  smile 
and  a  gesture,  half  of  compassion,  half  of  indig- 
nation. Fontanieu  recovered  himself  and,  by  tan- 
gled excuses,  showed  the  fear  he  had  and  of  what 
he  believed  the  Regent  capable. 

The  second  incident  is  that  the  Regent,  having 
appeared  to  be  in  a  great  hurry  to  learn  what 
Saint-Simon  might  have  arranged  with  Fontanieu, 
ordered  him  to  come  and  make  a  report  of  it  at 
once.  The  conference  at  Fontanieu's  having  re- 
quired long  details,  when  Saint-Simon  returned,  the 


i8o    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Regent  was  in  his  closet;  and  it  was  the  roues' 
hour,  the  hour  during  which  all  had  to  give  way  to 
debauchery.  Saint-Simon  was  compelled  to  write 
to  him,  and  besides  this,  much  mystery  was  re- 
quired to  have  the  letter  reach  its  destination. 
And  yet,  one  must  not  think  that  this  prince  did 
not  draw  a  well-defined  line  between  those  who 
had  a  share  in  affairs  and  his  boon  companions, 
which  caused  the  Due  de  Brancas,  one  of  his 
roues,  to  say  that  he  had  much  favour  but  no  cred- 
it. Besides  this,  the  Regent  had  made  for  himself 
a  system  of  discretion  to  which  he  was  faithful 
even  in  intoxication.  The  Comtesse  de  Sabran, 
one  of  the  favourites,  desiring  to  take  advantage  of 
one  of  those  moments  to  speak  to  him  on  a  matter 
of  business,  he  led  her  before  a  looking-glass,  and 
said  to  her:  "  Look  at  yourself,  see  if  so  pretty 
a  face  should  talk  business." 

Since  I  have  permitted  myself  to  digress  on  the 
domesticity  of  the  Regent,  I  must  not  forget  a  man 
of  rare  virtue,  who  was  neither  of  the  rank  nor 
birth  of  the  roues,  but  who  would  have  had  no 
dealings  with  them,  and  did  not  conceal  his  con- 
tempt from  them;  he  was  Ibagnet,  concierge  of 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     181 

the  Palais-Royal.  Attached  to  the  house  of  Or- 
leans since  his  childhood,  he  had  seen  the  Regent 
born,  loved  him  tenderly  and  served  him  zealously, 
spoke  to  him  with  the  freedom  of  an  old  servant, 
and  with  the  direct  manner  and  truth  of  a  man 
worthy  of  being  his  master's  friend.  The  Regent 
had  for  Ibagnet  that  sort  of  respect  which  virtue 
compels.  He  would  not  have  dared  to  propose  to 
him  to  be  the  minister  of  his  pleasures :  he  was  sure 
of  refusal.  Sometimes,  a  candle-stick  in  hand, 
Ibagnet  conducted  his  master  to  the  door  of  the 
room  where  the  orgy  took  place.  One  day  the  Re- 
gent laughingly  asked  him  to  enter:  "  Mon- 
sieur," replied  Ibagnet,  "  my  service  ends  here, 
I  do  not  mingle  with  such  evil  company,  and  I  am 
very  sorry  to  see  you  in  it."  At  another  time  he 
treated  as  the  lowest  of  beings,  Cauche,  valet  de 
chambre  and  Mercury  of  the  Regent,  because  that 
servant  had  seduced  a  young  girl  of  twelve  or  thir- 
teen years  to  turn  her  over  to  his  master. 

Let  us  return  to  the  outcome  of  the  bed  of  jus- 
tice. It  was  ended,  but  the  Duchesse  d'Orleans- 
being  at  Saint-Cloud  with  Madame,  mother  of  the 
Regent,  was  still  ignorant  of  there  having  been 


182     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

one.  Let  one  recall  her  folly  with  regard  to  her 
birth,  which  she  believed  at  least  equal  to  that  of 
her  husband,  and  one  will  understand  what  a  blow 
the  news  of  the  degradation  of  the  Due  du  Maine 
must  have  been.  Yet  she  had  to  be  informed  of 
it,  and  the  Regent  charged  the  Due  de  Saint-Simon 
with  this  cruel  mission.  He  first  told  Madame 
who,  raised  in  the  principles,  or,  if  one  prefers, 
in  the  prejudices  of  Germany,  was  delighted  to 
hear  it,  and  said  that  her  son  should  have  come  to 
that  decision  long  ago.  As  to  the  Duchesse  d' 
Orleans,  she  was  seized  with  a  mournful  grief,  re- 
turned at  once  to  Paris  and,  laying  her  pride  aside 
for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  she  said  to  the  Regent 
that  the  extreme  honour  he  had  done  her  in  marry- 
ing her  hushed  all  other  sentiment  in  her  heart; 
that  her  brother  must  be  very  guilty  to  have  drawn 
to  himself  the  punishment  he  received  and  that  she 
was  reduced  to  wish  it. 

The  two  brothers,  on  leaving  the  council  room, 
had  locked  themselves  with  their  intimates  in  the 
Due  du  Maine's  closet,  at  the  Tuileries,  during 
the  bed  of  justice.  From  there,  the  Comte  de 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    183 

Toulouse    withdrew    to    his    rooms,    where    the 
Duchesse  du  Maine  came  with  her  children.     She 
was  in  a  paroxysm  of  fury,  reproaching  the  Comte 
de  Toulouse  with  having  been  distinguished  apart 
from  his  brother,  and  claimed  that  he  could  only 
clear  himself  by  renouncing  the  unworthy  favour 
done  to  him.     The  Comte  de  Toulouse  was  de- 
lighted, but  Valincourt,  a  man  of  great  sense  and 
much  attached  to  the  prince,   taking  him  aside,, 
made  him  see  the  outcome  of  such  an  act.     The 
Marquis  d'O,  who  had  been  his  tutor,  spoke  to< 
him  in  the  same  way,  and  the  Chevalier  d'Haute- 
fort,  his  chief  equerry,  excited  by  a  more  lively  in- 
terest than  that  of  his  master,  spoke  even  more 
efficaciously :    "  Monseigneur,"    said    he    to    him, 
"  could  you  be  such  a  dupe  as  to  associate  yourself 
to  the  fury  of  a  mad-woman?     When  you  will 
have  been  the  admiration  of  fools  for  three  days,, 
you  will  be  for  forty  years  the  laughing  stock  of 
sensible  people.     As  for  me,  in  attaching  myself 
to  your  person,  I  expected  to  be  with  a  prince  of 
the  blood,  real  or  apparent;  on  this  footing  I  shall 
remain  with  you  all  my  life;  but  if  you  wish  to> 


184     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

cease  to  be,  neither  I  nor  all  those  of  your  house- 
hold who  are  worth  anything  will  be  able  to  re- 
main." 

The  Comte  de  Toulouse  frightened  by  the 
abyss  into  which  he  was  about  to  throw  himself, 
allowed  the  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine  to 
leave  for  Sceaux,  on  the  morrow,  paid  a  sort  of 
visit  of  thanks  to  the  Regent,  and  the  following 
Bay  appeared  at  the  regency  council. 

On  Saturday,  the  2yth,  the  Chambers  assem- 
bled; there  was  more  moaning  there  than  de- 
liberating; there  was  much  complaining  regarding 
the  installation  of  a  keeper  of  the  seals,  without 
his  having,  according  to  rules,  presented  his 
request;  action  was  taken  as  is  usual  on  such  occa- 
sions, of  the  lack  of  liberty;  the  Assembly  was 
adjourned  to  Monday,  the  29th.  But  on  that 
day,  the  Parliament  was  kept  busy  with  a  new 
topic  of  deliberation.  At  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  President  de  Blamont,  Faydau  de 
Calande  and  Saint-Martin,  councilors,  were  car- 
ried away  from  their  homes,  each  by  eight  mus- 
queteers  and  an  officer,  and  conducted,  the  first  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     185 

the  islands  of  Hyeres,  the  second  to  Belle-Isle,  the 
third  to  the  island  of  Oleron. 

The  Parliament  immediately  sent  a*"committee 
to  ask  the  King  for  the  liberty  of  her  magistrates. 
The  keeper  of  the  seals  replied  that  what  had  been, 
done  being  an  affair  of  State,  it  required  silence, 
and  the  conduct  of  the  Parliament  would  determine 
the  King's-  sentiments  on  that  question.  The  same 
committee  continued  its  solicitations  and  always 
received  the  same  replies,  until  the  close  of  the 
Parliament.  A  few  proposed  to  discontinue  the 
function,  and  it  was  suspended  for  one  day ;  others, 
not  to  take  a  vacation  until  satisfaction  was  ob- 
tained; but  the  most  prudent  preferred  to  leave 
Paris  freely  than  to  expose  themselves  to  being 
exiled  from  it.  The  Parliament  therefore  ad- 
journed and  the  Chambre  des  'vacations  was 
charged  to  continue  to  ask  for  the  exiled. 

The  Parliament  of  Brittany  wrote  in  their 
favour  to  the  Regent,  who  did  not  take  at  all 
kindly  to  the  action.  The  foreign  ministers,  in 
their  masters'  name,  complimented  him  for  having 
checked  these  civilians;  the  language  of  princes 


•who  wish  that  nothing  should  oppose  their  will. 
It  is  certain  that  authority  should  always  be  re- 
spected, for  the  tranquillity  of  the  people  them- 
selves; but  if  no  Body  raises  its  voice  in  their 
favour,  they  will  then  be  surrendered  to  the  despot- 
ism of  ministers  and  even  of  clerks. 

It  was  during  the  vacation,  on  October  3rd, 
that  Cardinal  de  Noailles  published  his  appeal 
from  the  Constitution  to  the  future  assembly  of 
prelates.  The  University,  almost  all  the  priests  of 
the  diocese,  and  numerous  secular  societies  sub- 
scribed to  the  appeal.  The  cardinal  withdrew  on 
the  same  day  from  the  council  of  conscience  which 
from  that  time  no  longer  subsisted,  and  whose  fall 
brought  about  that  of  the  other  councils.  For 
sometime  already  it  had  been  but  an  empty  dis- 
play; Law  was  sole  master  in  matters  of  finance, 
and  Abbe  Dubois  in  foreign  affairs.  The  latter, 
knowing  that  the  cardinal's  hat,  to  which  he 
aspired,  would  depend  on  the  credit  he  could  se- 
cure in  France,  had  himself  appointed  sole  min- 
ister of  foreign  affairs.  Le  Blanc  was  at  the  same 
time  named  secretary  of  war.  All  the  members 
of  the  different  councils  were  dispensed  with,  and 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     187 

kept  their  salaries,  which  were  twelve  thousand 
livres.  The  Marquis  de  Canillac  refused  his,  but 
he  entered  the  regency  council,  where  the  office 
was  worth  twenty  thousand  livres.  All  these 
noble  members  of  the  council  resembled  people, 
who  on  leaving  a  house,  take  away  the  furniture. 
The  Comte  d'Evreux  retained  the  detail  of 
cavalry;  Coigny,  that  of  the  dragoons;  d'Asfeld, 
the  fortifications  and  the  engineers;  the  Marquis 
de  Brancas  had  the  breeding-stud;  the  chief 
equerry,  Beringhen,  the  department  of  bridges  and 
highways;  the  Archbishop  of  Bordeaux,  Bezans, 
took  the  stewardship,  and  so  forth.  The  Regent 
knew  not  how  to  refuse,  and  what  he  did  not  give, 
was  taken  from  him.  He  had  singular  inconsist- 
encies. The  change  in  the  standing  of  the  legiti- 
mated embarrassed  very  much  the  Bishop  of 
Viviers,  Chambonas,  whose  brother  and  sister-in- 
law  belonged  to  the  house  of  the  Due  du  Maine. 
The  prelate,  chief  of  the  deputation  of  the  Etats 
of  Languedoc,  asked  the  Regent  how  he  should 
address  the  Prince  de  Dombes.  The  Regent  told 
him  to  act  in  the  usual  manner;  consequently,  the 
bishop  addressed  as  Serene  Highness  the  Prince  dc 


i88    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Dombes,  who  could  no  longer  lay  claim  to  the 
title. 

At  last  the  Regent  allowed  himself  to  be  per- 
suaded in  favour  of  the  exiled.  They  returned 
successively  and  the  Parliament,  become  compliant, 
gave  thanks  for  it,  as  for  a  favour.  This 
did  not  prevent  it  from  making  objections  to  the 
registering  of  the  Royal  Bank.  It  was  considered 
very  improper  to  have  the  King  become  a  banker. 
Events  proved  that  it  was  even  more  unfortunate. 

The  stroke  of  authority  struck  at  the  bed  of 
justice  had  stunned  the  Regent's  enemies,  but  had 
not  disheartened  them.  The  fury  which  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine  was  obliged  to  hide  was  only 
the  more  sharp  on  that  account,  and  her  corre- 
spondence with  Spain  the  more  frequent.  The 
Prince  de  Cellamare,  attentive  to  all  which  took 
place  in  Paris  and  in  Brittany,  sought  to  make 
creatures  for  the  King,  his  master,  and  many  offi- 
cers had  entered  into  an  engagement  with  him. 
The  project  was  to  make  the  whole  kingdom  re- 
volt against  the  Regent;  to  place  the  King  of 
Spain  at  the  head  of  the  government  of  France, 
and  under  him  the  Due  du  Maine. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     189 

The  alliance  of  the  Parliament  was  expected. 
All  had  been  negotiated  rather  enigmatically  in 
letters  which  might  be  intercepted,  but  Alberoni, 
before  acting,  wanted  to  see  the  plans  agreed  upon 
and  the  names  of  those  who  were  to  be  used.  It 
was  extremely  dangerous  to  confide  such  details  to 
a  messenger  whom  Abbe  Dubois  would  not  have 
failed  to  have  arrested. 

Cellamare  conceived  the  idea  that  there  could 
be  no  one  less  suspicious  than  young  Abbe  de 
Porto-Carrero,  nephew  of  the  cardinal  of  the  same 
name.  This  young  man  had  been  in  Paris  for 
some  time.  Monteleon,  son  of  the  Spanish  am- 
bassador to  England,  had  also  come  from  Hol- 
land, and  these  two  young  men,  meeting  in  Paris, 
became  intimate,  sought  the  same  pleasures,  bur- 
dened themselves  but  little  with  affairs,  and  de- 
cided to  return  together. 

Cellamare  thought  that  two  such  messengers 
would  be  safe  from  all  suspicion;  Abbe  Dubois  in 
truth  suspected  nothing,  and  yet  everything  was 
discovered. 

There  was  at  that  time  in  Paris,  a  woman 
named  Fillon,  a  celebrated  procuress,  consequently 


190    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

well  known  by  Abbe  Dubois.  She  even  at  times 
appeared  at  the  Regent's  audiences,  and  was  not 
more  ill  received  there  than  others.  A  tone  of 
jest  covered  all  indecencies  at  the  Palais-Royal 
and  this  has  continued  to  endure  in  high  society. 
One  of  Cellamare's  secretaries  had  an  appoint- 
ment with  one  of  the  Fillon  woman's  girls,  on  the 
day  that  the  Abbe  de  Porto-Carrero  was  to  leave. 
He  came  to  it  quite  late  and  excused  himself  by 
saying  that  he  had  been  very  busy  preparing  let- 
ters which  were  to  be  given  in  charge  of  our 
travellers.  The  Fillon  woman  left  the  lovers  to- 
gether and  immediately  went  to  give  an  account  of 
the  matter  to  Abbe  Dubois.  At  once  a  messenger 
was  sent  forward,  armed  with  orders  to  secure 
assistance  if  necessary.  He  joined  the  travellers 
at  Poitiers,  had  them  arrested;  all  their  papers 
were  seized  and  brought  back  to  Paris  on  Thurs- 
day the  8th  December.  This  messenger  reached 
Abbe  Dubois' s  residence  precisely  at  the  hour  when 
the  Regent  was  entering  the  Opera. 

The  abbe  opened  the  package,  had  the  time  to 
examine  everything  and  to  lay  aside  all  he  wished : 
we  shall  see  why.  At  the  close  of  the  Opera,  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     191 

abbe  joined  the  Regent,  and  gave  him  an  account 
of  the  capture.  Any  other  prince  would  have  been 
in  a  hurry  to  be  enlightened ;  but  it  was  the  precious 
supper  hour  and  nothing  could  outweigh  that. 
The  abbe  had  until  rather  late  the  next  day  to 
take  his  steps,  before  conferring  with  the  Regent 
who,  in  the  first  morning  hours,  his  head  still  heavy 
with  the  fumes  of  the  last  evening's  debauch,  was 
not  in  a  condition  to  hear  about  affairs  and 
signed  almost  mechanically  anything  presented  to 
him. 

Abbe  Dubois,  while  aspiring  to  everything,  still 
felt  that  he  was  nothing  in  himself,  foresaw  the 
revolutions  which  might  occur  through  his  master's 
death,  and  wished  to  procure  some  protectors  for 
himself  in  case  of  emergency. 

He  resolved  to  take  such  hold  of  affairs  that 
he  might  be  able  to  sacrifice  those  whose  ruin 
would  be  of  no  consequence,  and  save  those  with 
whom  he  could  make  a  merit  of  it.  The  Regent 
saw  nothing  in  that  affair  but  through  the  abbe's 
eyes.  The  keeper  of  the  seals  and  Le  Blanc  were 
the  only  confidants  of  it,  and  the  abbe,  possessed 
of  the  papers  in  the  case,  found  himself  master  of 


192    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OE  THE  REGENCY 

the  condemnation,  or  of  the  absolution  of  the 
guilty. 

Prince  de  Cellamare,  informed  by  a  private  mes- 
senger of  what  had  happened  at  Poitiers  and 
flattering  himself  that  the  two  Spaniards  had  only 
been  arrested  because  they  were  travelling  with  a 
fugitive  bankrupt  banker,  affected  an  air  of  as- 
surance and  went,  on  Friday,  the  9th,  about  noon, 
to  call  on  Le  Blanc  to  claim  the  package  of  letters 
which  he  had  by  chance,  he  said,  intrusted  to 
Abbe  Porto-Carrero.  Abbe  Dubois  was  already 
at  Le  Blanc's.  They  both  replied  to  the  ambas- 
sador that  the  letters  had  been  read,  and  that,  far 
from  returning  them  to  him,  they  had  orders  to 
examine  the  papers  in  his  closet  and  in  his  presence, 
and  they  immediately  requested  him  to  enter  a 
coach  with  them  so  that  they  might  take  the  in- 
ventory together. 

Cellamare,  judging  that  measures  were  taken, 
in  case  of  resistance,  made  no  objections,  and 
was  brought  back  to  his  residence,  of  which  a  de- 
tachment of  musqueteers  had  already  taken  pos- 
session. The  desks  and  boxes  were  opened.  The 
seals  of  the  King  and  of  the  ambassador  were 


CARDINAL  ALBERONI 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     193 

placed  on  all  the  papers,  in  proportion  as  they  were 
examined  and  assorted.  After  this  had  been  done, 
the  two  ministers  withdrew,  leaving  the  ambassa- 
dor in  the  keeping  of  Dulibois,  gentleman  in 
ordinary  to  the  King. 

During  the  examination  of  the  papers,  Cella- 
mare,  with  an  easy  air,  affected  to  treat  Le  Blanc 
with  politeness  and  the  abbe  with  cold  contempt. 
To  the  point  that  when  Le  Blanc  was  about  to 
open  a  small  casket:  "  Monsieur  Le  Blanc,"  said 
the  ambassador,  "  that  is  not  within  your  province;; 
it  contains  letters  from  women;  leave  them  to  the 
abbe,  who  all  his  life  has  been  a  maquereau" 
The  abbe  smiled  and  pretended  to  take  it  as  a. 
joke. 

In  the  evening,  there  was  a  council  meeting 
where  an  account  of  the  conspiracy  was  rendered; 
letters  from  Cellamare  to  Cardinal  Alberoni  were 
read  and  the  Regent  fully  justified  his  proceedings 
towards  the  ambassador  who,  having  himself 
violated  the  rights  of  people,  had  lost  the  privi- 
lege of  his  title.  The  letters  were  printed,  spread 
broadcast;  none  of  the  foreign  ministers  took  up 
the  defence  of  Cellamare,  who  left  Paris,  accom- 


194    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

panied  by  Dulibois  and  two  captains  of  cavalry. 
They  stopped  off  at  Blois,  where  Cellamare  was 
detained  until  the  arrival  in  France  of  Due  de 
Saint-Aignan,  our  ambassador  to  Madrid;  after 
which  he  was  permitted  to  continue  on  his  way 
freely. 

On  Saturday  morning  the  loth,  the  Marquis  de 
'Pompadour,  the  last  of  his  name,  father  of  the 
beautiful  Courcillon  and  grandfather  of  the  Prin- 
cesse  de  Rohan,  was  sent  to  the  Bastille. 

The  Comte  d'Aydie,  cousin,  brother-in-law  and 
bearing  the  same  name  as  Riom,  took  flight  and 
withdrew  to  Spain,  where  he  died  long  after,  in 
rather  good  circumstances. 

On  the  very  evening  that  Cellamare  was  ar- 
rested, d'Aydie,  being  at  a  house  where  he  was  to 
have  his  supper,  was  watching  a  game  of  chess. 
Someone  enters  and  reports  that  Cellamare  has 
been  arrested;  d'Aydie,  very  attentive  to  a  piece 
of  news  so  interesting  to  him,  did  not  show  the 
least  emotion.  One  of  the  players  having  said 
that  he  could  not  continue  the  game,  d'Aydie 
offered  to  take  it  up,  was  accepted,  played  calmly 
and  won.  When  supper  was  served,  he  left  on  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     195 

plea  of  indisposition,  took  the  mail  coach  and 
went  away. 

Foucault  de  Magny,  introducer  of  the  am- 
bassadors and  son  of  the  State  counsellor,  ran  away 
also:  he  was  a  fool  whose  only  wise  act  was  to 
flee.  A  certain  Abbe  Brigault,  very  deep  in  this 
affair,  was  arrested  at  Montargis  on  a  description 
and  brought  to  the  Bastille.  He  did  not  have  to 
be  pressed  to  confess  all  he  knew,  adding  that  the 
details  of  the  matter  would  be  found  in  the  papers 
which  he  had  left  with  the  Chevalier  de  Menil, 
who  was  arrested;  but  he  had  already  burned  the 
papers,  a  thing  which  the  Regent  regretted  very 
much.  Many  persons  were  arrested  successively 
before  reaching  the  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du 
Maine.  This  took  place  before  long;  the  due  was 
arrested  at  Sceaux  by  la  Billarderie,  lieutenant  of 
the  gardes  du  corps,  conducted  to  the  chateau  of 
Dourlens,  in  Picardy,  and  left  in  charge  of  Favan- 
court,  corporal  of  musqueteers. 

The  duchesse,  in  consideration  of  her  birth,  was 
treated  with  more  distinction.  It  was  the  Due 
d'Ancenis,  who  arrested  her  in  a  house  of  the  rue 
Saint-Honore,  which  she  had  taken  so  as  to  be 


196    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

nearer  the  Tuileries.  The  Due  d'Ancenis  left  her 
at  Esonne,  from  where  a  lieutenant  and  an  officer 
of  the  gardes  du  corps  conducted  her  to  the  chateau 
of  Dijon. 

In  his  misfortune  the  Due  du  Maine  showed 
only  submission;  protested  often  his  innocence  and 
his  attachment  to  the  King  and  to  the  Regent. 
As  for  the  duchesse,  she  complained  much  of  the 
treatment  offered  to  a  princess  of  the  blood,  and 
furiously  assailed  her  nephew,  M.  le  due,  when 
she  saw  herself  in  the  chateau  of  Dijon  of  which 
he  was  the  governor,  and  the  public  did  not  ap- 
prove of  his  being  his  aunt's  jailer. 

All  the  servants  of  the  house  of  Maine  were 
arrested  at  the  same  time  as  their  master  and  were 
locked  in  the  Bastille.  Mademoiselle  de  Launai, 
who,  since,  has  become  Madame  de  Staal,  was 
among  them.  Her  memoirs  deserve  to  be  read: 
her  portraits  are  quite  faithful,  with  the  exception 
of  that  of  the  Chevalier  de  Menil,  whom  she 
loved  too  much  to  judge  him  properly.  I  have 
met  him  a  number  of  times  at  her  house  and  he 
appeared  to  me  to  be  less  than  mediocre. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  in  Paris,  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     197 

Due  de  Saint-Aignan,  our  ambassador  at  Madrid, 
was  rather  uncomfortable  there.  Although  noth- 
ing as  yet  was  known  there  about  what  had  hap- 
pened in  Paris,  the  break  between  the  two  crowns 
seemed  so  near,  and  the  violence  of  Alberoni  so 
well  known,  that  the  Due  de  Saint-Aignan  did  not 
consider  himself  safe.  He  left  secretly  with  his 
wife  and  a  few  servants  and  reached  the  foot  of 
the  Pyrenees.  There,  not  doubting  but  that 
Alberoni  would  send  after  him,  he  took  trunks  for 
himself,  his  wife  and  his  valets,  but  only  those 
absolutely  necessary,  crossed  the  mountains  and 
did  not  stop  until  he  reached  Saint-Jean-Pied-de- 
Port.  He  had  taken  the  precaution  to  leave  in 
his  coach  a  valet  de  chambre  and  a  woman  who 
announced  themselves,  while  continuing  their  voy- 
age, as  the  ambassador  and  ambassadress.  The 
due  had  hardly  gone  a  league  in  the  mountains 
when  men  sent  by  Alberoni  surrounded  the  coach. 
The  servants  played  their  parts  well,  loudly  pro- 
tested against  the  violence  and  were  brought  back 
to  Pampelune.  When  the  Due  de  Saint-Aignan 
had  arrived  at  Bayonne,  he  sent  someone  to  claim 
his  carriage,  which  was  returned  to  him,  and  the 


198     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

governor  sent  word  of  the  mistake  to  the  car- 
dinal-minister, who  was  in  the  greatest  fury. 

While  war  was  breaking  out  in  the  South,  the 
North  had  the  good  fortune  of  being  rid  of  the 
King  of  Sweden,  Charles  XII.  A  shot  from  a 
falconet  did  away  with  him  at  the  siege  of  Frid- 
erikshall.  This  prince  had  estimable  qualities 
which  would  have  made  him  beloved  had  he  been 
but  a  private  citizen;  a  warlike  frenzy  made  of 
him  a  scourge  of  humanity.  His  father,  an  ob- 
scure tyrant,  had  crushed  his  subjects,  humbled  the 
Senate  and  the  nobility  and  destroyed  the  laws. 
The  son,  a  more  brilliant  destroyer,  was  less  hated, 
owing  to  the  glamour  of  that  glory  which  over- 
awes the  people,  senseless  admirers  of  the  heroes 
who  cause  their  misfortunes.  Charles  was  the 
cause  of  that  of  his  own  States  and  of  his  neigh- 
bours. Thousands  of  men  destroyed  by  sword 
and  fire  were  the  results  of  his  reign.  The  devas- 
tation, the  depopulation  of  Sweden  had  reached, 
at  the  death  of  Charles  XII,  such  a  point  that,  of 
males  there  were  left  but  children  and  old  men. 
Only  women  and  girls  were  seen  ploughing  the 
earth,  carrying  the  mail  and  even  in  the  public 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     199 

baths.  It  was  necessary  to  employ  them  at  all 
the  labours  which  weakness  and  decency  seem  to 
prohibit  to  them.  I  have  this  information  from 
the  Comte  de  Cereste-Brancas,  the  most  truthful 
of  men  and  our  minister  in  Sweden  immediately 
after  the  death  of  Charles  XII. 

The  Swedes  took  advantage  of  the  circumstances 
to  resume  their  right  to  elect  their  sovereigns. 
Without  consideration  for  the  pretensions  of  the 
Duke  of  Holstein,  son  of  the  elder  sister  of 
Charles,  they  elected  as  Queen,  Ulrica-Eleonor, 
his  younger  sister.  They  later  consented  to  asso- 
ciate with  her,  her  husband,  the  Prince  of  Hesse, 
but  with  such  limitation  of  power  in  their  persons 
and  those  of  their  descendants  that  despotism  can 
not  revive  for  a  long  time. 

This  year  opened  with  the  declaration  of  war 
against  Spain.  It  had  been  preceded  by  a  mani- 
festo to  inform  the  people's  minds  on  the  justice 
of  our  motives.  The  enemies  of  the  government 
did  not  forget  themselves  on  this  occasion  and 
circulated  four  seditious  documents.  The  first  was 
a  manifesto  from  the  King  of  Spain,  addressed 
to  the  three  Etats  of  France.  The  second,  a  let- 


200    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

ter  from  Philip  V  to  the  King.  The  third,  a 
circular  letter  to  the  Parliaments.  And  the  fourth, 
an  alleged  request  presented  to  Philip  V  by  the 
three  Etats  of  France.  The  Parliament  contented 
itself  with  pronouncing  a  decree  suppressing 
these  libels,  which  deserved  much  more. 

The  officers  who  were  to  serve  against  Spain 
were  named;  and  a  more  than  mild  surprise  was 
caused  by  seeing  Marshal  de  Berwick,  who  was 
decorated  with  the  grandeeship  and  with  the 
Fleece,  and  whose  son,  the  Due  de  Fitz- James, 
enjoyed  the  same  honours  in  France,  accept  the 
command  of  an  army  against  Philip  V.  D'Asfeld, 
since  Marshal  of  France,  acted  in  exact  contrast 
to  Berwick,  who  asked  for  him  to  serve  under  him ; 
he  went  to  the  Regent:  "  Monseigneur,"  said  he 
to  him,  "  I  am  a  Frenchman,  I  owe  you  all  and 
expect  nothing  but  from  you  " ;  then  showing  the 
Golden  Fleece :  "  What  do  you  wish  me  to  do  with 
this  which  I  have  received  from  the  King  of  Spain  ? 
Dispense  me  from  serving  against  one  of  my  bene- 
factors." 

It  would  have  been  very  strange,  if  the  Regent, 
yielding  in  all  matters,  had  resisted  only  to  an 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    201 

act  so  honourable:  therefore  did  he  dispense 
d'Asfeld  from  serving  and  did  not  esteem  him  the 
less  for  that.  The  King  of  Spain  was  grateful 
about  the  matter  and  the  nations  applauded. 

The  Prince  de  Conti  was  given  command  of 
the  cavalry,  drew  much  money  for  his  equipment, 
had  even  his  coach  expenses  paid  and  that  is  all 
the  glory  he  acquired  in  his  campaign. 

Games  of  chance  had  been  prohibited.  The 
Due  de  Tresmes  claimed,  as  governor  of  Paris, 
to  have  the  right  of  one  of  those  privileged  cut- 
throat establishments.  Lieutenant  of  police, 
Machault,  who  did  not  see  this  privilege  in  the 
ordinances,  declared  that  he  would  tolerate  all 
those  dens  if  the  governor's  was  allowed  to  exist. 

The  Regent,  so  as  not  to  displease  anyone, 
purchased  the  Due  de  Tresmes'  desistance  with  a 
pension  of  two  thousand  livres.  A  few  years 
after,  during  the  ministry  of  M.  le  due,  the  devout 
Princesse  de  Carignan  obtained  permission  to 
have  a  game  in  her  hotel  de  Soissons.  At  once 
the  Due  de  Tresmes  resumed  his,  keeping  his  pen- 
sion. Be-ribboned,  be-embroidered  and  even 
decorated  scoundrels  did  the  honours  of  those  two 


202    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

dens,  where  the  children  of  the  bourgeois  came  to 
lose  what  they  stole  from  their  families.  Several 
tragic  adventures  finally  made  it  known  that  these 
places  were  the  seminaries  of  the  Place  de  la 
Greve.  Cardinal  de  Fleury,  having  become  min- 
ister, prohibited  them.  This  vile  privilege  of  the 
governor  still  exists  in  several  provinces.  The 
protectors  do  not  blush  at  the  infamous  source  of 
the  income  which  they  draw  from  it  and  appar- 
ently think,  like  Vespasian,  that  "  money  has  no 
odour." 

It  was  at  that  time  that  the  Philip-piques,  a 
poem  against  the  Regent,  written  by  La  Grange, 
appeared.  This  work  wherein  there  are  but  a 
few  poetical  strophes,  is  a  mass  of  horrors  in  which 
the  most  frenzied  calumny  is  supported  by  a  few 
truths.  Copies  of  it  went  all  over  France.  The 
Regent  heard  of  it  and  desired  to  see  the  book. 
The  Due  de  Saint-Simon  claims  that  it  was  he 
who,  pressed  by  the  solicitations  of  the  prince, 
made  him  read  that  frightful  libel.  He  adds  that 
when  the  Regent  reached  the  place  in  which  he  is 
called  the  poisoner  of  the  royal  family,  he  shud- 
dered, almost  fainted,  and  unable  to  control  his 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    203 

tears,  he  exclaimed :  **  Ah !  it  is  too  much !  this 
horror  is  more  than  I  can  bear!  "  It  took  him 
some  time  to  recover  from  his  despair. 

La  Grange  was  arrested  and  sent  to  the  lies 
Sainte-Marguerite,  from  which  he  was  liberated 
during  the  regency  and  showed  himself  freely 
about  Paris.  I  have  always  believed  that  this  was 
done  to  destroy  the  opinion  which  existed  that  the 
Regent  had  had  him  assassinated,  otherwise  it 
would  have  been  the  height  of  impudence.  An 
author  who  would  have  done  one-half  as  much 
against  a  councilor  of  the  Parliament  would  have 
been  sent  to  the  galleys. 

The  reader  has  been  able  to  see  until  now  that 
I  do  not  conceal  either  the  depraved  morals  or 
the  bad  administration  of  the  Regent;  but  I  must 
render  justice  to  his  natural  goodness.  When  his 
humane  character  is  considered,  one  can  not  help 
but  regret  that  he  had  not  more  princely  virtues. 

As  soon  as  the  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine 
were  arrested,  alarm  spread  in  their  party. 
Marshal  de  Villeroi  lost  his  arrogance,  Villars  his 
audacity,  d'Huxelles,  Taillard,  Canillac,  d'Effiat 
and  the  premier  president  showed  their  fear  by 


204     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  efforts  they  made  in  concealing  it.  The  best 
protection  the  accused  could  have,  was  the 
Regent's  heart.  Good  and  bad  proceedings, 
services  and  offences  affected  him  but  little ;  he  gave 
and  did  not  reward,  forgave  easily,  did  not  esteem 
much  and  hated  even  less. 

Moreover,  Abbe  Dubois  felt  that  he  would  be 
charged  by  the  public  with  having  encouraged  or 
at  least  with  not  having  stopped  the  Regent's 
severity.  The  impetuosity  of  M.  le  due  made  it 
feared  that,  if  he  were  once  freed  of  the  counter- 
balance of  the  legitimated  or  of  their  partisans, 
he  would  raise  himself  on  the  ruins  of  the  Regent 
and  alone  gather  the  fruit  of  all  that  the  latter 
had  done  to  make  authority  more  firm.  The  abbe 
expected,  in  saving  the  Due  du  Maine  and  the 
premier  president,  to  create  for  himself,  in  case 
of  events,  a  protection  against  the  Parliament 
even,  which  might  seek  him  out  some  day.  What 
he  did  for  his  own  safety,  he  easily  persuaded 
the  Regent  was  done  for  him  alone,  frightened 
him  on  the  character  of  M.  le  due,  and  made  him 
understand  that  the  public  did  not  absolutely  look 
upon  the  accused  as  guilty  of  lese-majeste,  but 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    205 

as  upon  men  attached  to  State  who  had  only 
sought  to  place  the  King's  life  in  safety.  The 
morals  of  the  Regent,  his  display  of  irreligion, 
old  and  new  rumours  only  favoured  these  ideas. 
That  prince  was  impressed:  his  natural  laziness, 
the  fear  of  disturbing  his  pleasures  combining 
with  his  considerations,  he  left  the  abbe  sole  mas- 
ter of  that  affair. 

There  was  no  regular  proceeding  nor  referring 
to  the  Parliament.  The  keeper  of  the  seals  and 
Le  Blanc  questioned  the  prisoners  and  every  day 
new  ones  were  brought.  It  had  been  seen, 
through  the  papers  of  Cellamare,  that  this  min- 
ister kept  up  different  correspondence  which  had 
no  connection  with  the  Duchesse  du  Maine  and 
which,  nevertheless,  had  reference  to  Spain,  with- 
out the  guilty  having  any  dealings  with  one  an- 
other. For  example,  the  Due  (to-day  Marshal) 
de  Richelieu  and  the  Marquis  de  Saillans 
(d'Estaing),  were  sent  to  the  Bastille.  On  the 
day  they  were  arrested,  the  Regent  said  publicly 
that  he  had  in  his  pocket  enough  to  have  four 
heads  of  the  Due  de  Richelieu  cut  off,  if  he  had 
that  many.  He  referred  to  four  letters  addressed 


206    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

to  Cardinal  Alberoni,  signed  by  the  due  and  in 
which  he  agreed  to  surrender  to  Spain,  Bayonne, 
where  his  regiment  and  that  of  de  Saillans  were  at 
that  time  garrisoned.  This  youthful  giddy-head, 
who  has  hardly  changed,  expected  to  be  the  author 
of  a  revolution  in  the  kingdom,  and  to  have  as  a 
reward  the  regiment  of  the  guards.  This  plot, 
which  the  lowest  officer  of  the  place  could  have 
caused  to  fail,  only  excited  the  laughter  of  the 
public.  This  young  man  thought  himself  a  per- 
sonage on  seeing  himself  treated  as  a  prisoner  of 
State,  and  took  his  prison  with  the  lightness  which 
he  has  always  shown  in  his  amours,  in  affairs  and 
in  war.  The  Regent,  who  considered  the  matter 
as  rather  amusing,  caused  to  be  procured  for  the 
prisoner  all  that  he  asked,  valet  de  chambre,  two 
lackeys,  games,  instruments;  so  that  instead  of 
liberty,  he  had  all  possible  licence. 

While  the  Regent  was  busy  with  affairs  of 
State,  he  was  besides  disturbed  with  domestic 
troubles.  The  Duchesse  de  Berri,  carried  away 
by  the  most  foolish  pride  or  debased  in  debauchery, 
gave  public  exhibitions  of  both. 

The  ambassador  from  Venice  having  called  on 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    207 

her,  she  took  it  upon  herself  to  receive  him  in 
an  arm-chair,  on  a  platform  with  three  steps. 
The  ambassador  stopped  a  moment,  then  advanced 
with  the  slowness  of  a  man  who  meditates  a  de- 
cision, made  a  bow  and  immediately  turned  his 
back  and  went  out  without  having  said  a  word. 
On  the  same  day  he  assembled  all  the  foreign  min- 
isters, and  all  publicly  declared  that  not  one  would 
again  set  their  foot  in  the  princess's  house  unless 
they  were  assured  of  being  received  as  fitted  their 
station. 

The  domestic  life  of  the  princess  made  a 
strange  contrast  to  her  public  exhibitions  of  pride. 
I  have  already  spoken  of  the  shameful  slavery 
in  which  the  Comte  de  Riom  held  her,  and  he  had 
all  the  less  relaxed  from  his  insolence  towards  her 
that  he  had  made  a  system  of  it  and  that  his 
harshness,  his  whims,  his  caprices  strengthened  the 
constancy  of  his  mistress.  Nor  has  the  reader  for- 
gotten that  retreats  at  the  Carmelites  preceded  or 
followed  her  orgies.  A  nun  who  followed  the 
princess  at  all  the  services  of  the  convent,  as- 
tonished at  seeing  her  prostrated,  mingling  her 
sighs  to  the  most  fervent  prayers :  "  Good  Jesus  I 


208     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Madame,  is  it  possible  that  the  public  can  speak 
so  scandalously  of  you?  The  world  is  very 
wicked!  you  live  here  as  a  saint."  The  princess 
laughed.  These  incongruities  certainly  showed 
some  degree  of  insanity.  It  was  with  the  greatest 
anger  that  she  heard  that  people  dared  to  censure 
her  conduct. 

She  finally  became  enceinte,  and  when  she  was 
near  her  delivery,  she  remained  much  in  doors, 
and  often  in  bed,  under  pretext  of  headaches. 
But  the  excesses  of  wine  and  strong  liquor  which 
she  always  continued  over-heated  her  blood.  In 
her  confinement,  a  violent  fever  put  her  in  the 
greatest  danger.  This  daring,  imperious  woman, 
who  defied  all  the  proprieties,  who  had  loudly 
proclaimed  her  commerce  with  Riom,  flattered 
herself  with  hiding  its  outcome  from  the  public, 
as  if  the  acts  of  princes  could  ever  remain  un- 
known !  The  only  ones  to  enter  her  room  were 
Riom,  the  Marquise  de  Mouchy,  lady  of  the 
bed-chamber,  worthy  confidant  of  her  mistress, 
and  the  women  necessary  to  the  patient.  The 
Regent  himself  only  entered  for  moments:  al- 
though it  was  impossible  to  suppose  him  ignorant 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    209 

of  his  daughter's  condition,  he  feigned  in  her 
presence  to  notice  nothing,  either  through  fear  of 
angering  her,  if  he  seemed  to  know,  or  in  the  hope 
that  his  silence  would  stop  the  indiscretion  of  the 
others. 

So  many  precautions  did  not  hinder  scandal  and 
was  soon  to  increase  it.  The  danger  became  so 
great  that  it  reached  the  ear  of  the  cure  of  Saint- 
Sulpice,  Languet.  He  betook  himself  to  the 
Luxembourg,  saw  the  Regent  there,  spoke  to  him 
of  the  necessity  of  informing  the  princess  of  the 
peril  in  which  she  was,  to  prepare  her  to  receive 
the  sacraments,  and  added  that  first  of  all  Riom 
and  the  Mouchy  woman  must  leave  the  palace. 

The  Regent,  not  daring  to  contradict  the  cure, 
nor  alarm  his  daughter  by  the  proposition  of  the 
sacraments,  still  less  to  excite  her  by  the  pastor's 
request  regarding  Riom  and  Mouchy,  tried  to 
make  the  cure  understand  that  the  expulsion  of 
those  two  would  cause  the  greatest  scandal.  He 
sought  compromises;  the  cure  rejected  them  all, 
judging  that,  in  so  important  an  occasion,  in  the 
midst  of  the  quarrels  of  the  Constitution  wherein 
he  played  a  part,  he  would  be  discredited  by  the 


210    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

opposing  party  should  he  not  show  himself  curate 
in  all  strictness.  The  Regent,  being  unable  to 
persuade  the  cure,  offered  to  refer  the  matter  to 
Cardinal  de  Noailles.  Languet  consented  to  this 
and  would  perhaps  not  have  been  sorry  that  the 
complacency  of  the  cardinal,  in  relieving  a  sub- 
ordinate priest,  who  would  have  had  the  honour 
of  a  severe  lecture,  should  lay  himself  open  to 
the  party  of  the  Constitution.  The  cardinal  re- 
quested to  present  himself  at  the  Luxembourg, 
reached  there,  and  on  the  Regent  explaining 
matters  to  him,  he  approved  the  conduct  of  the 
cure,  and  insisted  on  the  dismissal  of  the  two  sub- 
jects of  scandal. 

The  Mouchy  woman,  unable  to  deceive  herself 
as  to  the  dangerous  condition  of  her  mistress, 
thought  she  had  provided  against  all  eventualities 
by  sending  for  a  Franciscan  friar,  to  confess  the 
princess,  and  did  not  doubt  that  after  that  the 
cure  would  bring  the  Viaticum.  She  did  not  sus- 
pect that  she  herself  was  the  principal  subject  of 
the  conference,  when  the  Regent  asked  for  her. 
She  opened  the  door  and  the  Regent,  without 
entering  or  making  her  step  out,  told  her  on  what 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    211 

condition  the  sacraments  were  to  be  administered. 
The  Mouchy  woman  stunned  at  the  compliment, 
yet  brazened  it  out,  became  excited  over  the  affront 
made  to  a  woman  of  honour,  assured  that  her 
mistress  would  not  sacrifice  her  to  bigots,  went  in 
again,  and  a  few  moments  after,  returned  to  tell 
the  Regent  that  the  princess  was  furious  at  so 
insolent  a  proposition,  and  closed  the  door  once 
more.  The  cardinal,  to  whom  the  Regent  brought 
the  reply,  explained  that  it  was  not  to  the  one 
who  was  to  be  expelled  that  the  message  should 
have  been  intrusted;  that  it  was  the  father's  duty 
to  exhort  his  daughter  to  fulfil  her  own.  The 
prince,  who  knew  his  daughter's  violent  temper, 
excused  himself,  and  on  his  refusal,  the  cardinal 
started  to  enter  so  as  to  speak  himself.  The 
Regent,  fearing  that  the  sight  of  the  prelate  and 
of  the  cure  might  cause  a  revolution  in  the  patient 
which  might  kill  her,  threw  himself  before  the 
cardinal  and  begged  him  to  wait  that  she  be  pre- 
pared for  such  a  visit.  He  had  the  door  opened 
again  and  announced  to  the  Mouchy  woman  that 
the  archbishop  and  the  curate  wished  to  speak 
absolutely.  The  patient,  who  heard  him,  became 


212     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

equally  furious  at  her  father  and  at  the  priests, 
saying  that  those  hypocrites  took  advantage  of 
her  condition  and  of  their  office  to  disgrace  her, 
and  that  her  father  had  the  weakness  and  the 
stupidity  to  suffer  them,  instead  of  having  them 
thrown  out  of  the  window. 

The  Regent,  more  embarrassed  than  before, 
came  to  tell  the  cardinal  that  the  patient  was  in 
such  a  state  that  action  must  be  postponed.  The 
prelate,  wearied  with  insisting  uselessly,  withdrew 
after  having  ordered  the  curate  to  carefully  watch 
to  the  duties  of  his  ministry. 

The  Regent,  much  relieved  by  the  retreat  of 
the  cardinal,  would  also  have  liked  to  be  rid  of 
the  cure.  But  the  latter  settled  himself  at  the 
door  of  the  chamber  and,  during  two  days  and 
two  nights,  whenever  he  went  out  to  rest  and  take 
a  little  food,  he  had  himself  replaced  by  two  priests 
who  stood  guard.  At  last,  the  danger  having 
ceased,  this  ecclesiastical  watch  was  raised,  and 
the  patient  only  thought  of  getting  well. 

In  spite  of  her  fury  against  the  priests,  the 
fear  of  hell  had  seized  her.  And  the  impression 
left  was  the  greater  because  her  health  did  not 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    213 

return  entirely  and  her  passion  was  as  strong 
as  ever.  Riom,  assisted  by  the  advice  of  the  Due 
de  Lauzun,  his  uncle,  resolved  to  take  advantage 
of  his  mistress's  disposition  to  bring  her  to  a  mar- 
riage which  would  quiet  her  conscience  and  would 
assure  her  pleasures.  The  Due  de  Lauzun  con- 
ceived the  plan,  the  means,  the  expedients,  and 
Riom  acted  accordingly. 

They  found  but  little  resistance  in  a  woman  dis- 
traught with  love,  afraid  of  the  devil,  and  long 
ago  subjugated.  Riom  had  only  to  order  to  be 
obeyed;  he  therefore  was,  and  not  four  days 
passed  between  the  project  and  the  execution.  A 
few  dates  brought  together  will  prove  it,  and  as 
the  Duchesse  de  Berri  died  very  soon  after,  I  shall 
at  once  report  that  which  concerns  her. 

That  princess  became  ill  on  the  26th  of  March; 
Easter  was  on  the  9th  of  April  and,  on  Holy 
Tuesday,  the  4th,  she  was  out  of  danger.  You 
must  know  that  the  custom  of  the  parishes  of  Paris 
is  to  bring  communion  to  all  sick  persons  during 
Holy  Week,  even  though  such  sick  are  not  in  a  con- 
dition to  receive  the  Viaticum :  it  suffices  that  they 
be  unable  to  receive  the  Sacrament  at  church. 


214    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

There  was  therefore  a  twofold  reason  to  carry  the 
sacraments  to  the  princess,  that  of  her  condition 
and  that  of  the  time.  Although  the  public  had 
seen  this  duty  performed,  the  motives  of  the  refusal 
had  become  known,  and  Easter  week  was  only  the 
more  embarrassing  to  spend  in  Paris. 

Although  the  princess  was  convalescent,  she  was 
still  far  from  being  in  a  condition  to  bear  the 
fatigues  of  a  journey;  yet  in  spite  of  all  arguments 
offered  in  the  matter,  she  went  away  on  Easter 
Monday  and  settled  at  Meudon.  Her  marriage 
had  already  taken  place,  that  is  to  say  that  she 
and  Riom  had  received  the  benediction  of  a  not 
over-particular  and  well-paid  priest.  This  sufficed 
to  calm  or  prevent  remorse,  but  not  to  establish 
the  marriage  of  a  princess  of  the  blood,  grand- 
daughter of  France. 

The  Regent  knew  it  and  feebly  opposed  it.  He 
supposed  that,  if  his  daughter  were  again  in  the 
condition  in  which  she  had  been,  a  confidence  made 
to  the  cure  would  make  him  more  pliant  and  would 
cause  him  to  avoid  scandal.  The  complacency 
of  the  prince  is  not  the  less  inconceivable,  and 
caused  some  to  think  that  there  had  been  between 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    215 

father  and  daughter  an  intimacy  which  passed 
paternal  and  filial  tenderness,  and  that  the  father 
feared  an  avowal  from  his  daughter  in  one  of  her 
attacks  of  mad  fury.  Unfortunately  all  was  be- 
lievable in  two  persons  so  devoid  of  scruples  and 
principles.  Of  all  the  horrors  of  the  Philippiques, 
the  Regent  had  seemed  to  be  only  truly  affected 
by  the  passage  on  poison,  an  act  of  which  he  was 
incapable. 

However  that  may  be,  Riom,  who  had  not  de- 
sired the  marriage  as  a  matter  of  conscience,  could 
only  satisfy  his  ambition  by  publicity.  The  most 
important  settlements  became  its  necessary  out- 
come. He  excited  his  mistress  on  the  subject  and 
compelled  her  to  importune  the  Regent  about  it. 
In  vain  did  the  prince  oppose  reasons;  she  replied 
by  transports  of  rage. 

The  altercations  between  the  father  and 
daughter  transpired.  Madame  and  Her  Royal 
Highness  the  Duchesse  d'Orleans  heard  the  cause 
of  them.  Her  Serene  Highness  was  perhaps  not 
over-sorry  at  the  humiliation  of  a  daughter  from 
whose  haughtiness  she  continually  suffered.  As 
to  Madame,  she  saw  no  difficulty,  and  beside  her- 


216    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

self  with  anger,  she  saw  nothing  more  simple  thar 
to  end  it  all  by  throwing  Riom  out  of  the  window 
or  into  the  river. 

The  Regent  was  the  most  grieved,  and  he  might 
have  followed  Madame's  advice,  had  he  not  feared 
the  vengeance  and  perhaps  the  confession  of  a 
frenzied  daughter.  To  avoid  her  persecutions,  he 
seldom  saw  her,  on  the  pretext  of  business  and  the 
distance  of  Meudon,  and  to  gain  time,  had  Riom 
ordered  to  join  his  regiment  which  was  a  part  of 
Marshal  Berwick's  army.  All  the  colonels  had 
already  gone  and  honour  did  not  permit  Riom  to 
delay.  He  obeyed  immediately,  in  spite  of  his 
mistress's  tears.  She  was  in  despair  over  it  and 
declared  to  her  father,  who  came  to  see  her  a  few 
days  after,  that  she  was  resolved  to  announce  her 
marriage;  that  she  was  a  widow,  mistress  of  her- 
self and  of  her  property;  that  she  wished  to  dis- 
pose of  them  as  she  saw  fit,  and  finally  repeated 
all  that  Riom  had  told  her  about  Mile,  de  Mont- 
pensier.  The  Regent,  tired  of  his  daughter's  fits 
of  passion,  gave  her  hopes,  asked  her  for  time 
and  left  her,  well  resolved  not  to  return. 

At  the  end  of  a  few  days,  the  princess,  anxious 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    217 

at  not  seeing  her  father,  feared  that  the  rarity  of 
his  visits  might  appear  to  be  a  diminution  of  credit, 
had  him  requested  to  come  to  supper  at  Meudon, 
where  she  wished  to  give  him  a  reception.  It  was 
in  the  early  days  of  May.  The  Regent  having 
been  unable  to  refuse  her,  she  desired  that  the  sup- 
per be  given  on  the  terrace,  in  spite  of  the  re- 
monstrances made  her  regarding  the  coolness  of 
the  night  and  the  danger  of  a  relapse,  in  a  not 
very  strong  convalescence.  This  was  precisely 
what  made  her  persist,  imagining  that  a  night 
fete,  and  in  the  open  air,  would  undeceive  the 
public  of  the  opinion  that  she  had  been  delivered. 

What  had  been  predicted  took  place:  fever 
took  possession  and  no  more  left  her.  The 
Regent  having  excused  the  rarity  of  his  visits  on 
the  plea  of  affairs,  she  decided  to  have  herself 
conveyed  to  la  Muette,  where  the  proximity  of 
Paris  would  induce  her  father  to  see  her  more  fre- 
quently. 

The  journey  from  Meudon  to  la  Muette  ag- 
gravated still  more  the  symptoms  of  her  illness. 
She  was  so  ill  towards  the  middle  of  July  that  the 
terrible  word  death  had  to  be  spoken  to  her.  She 


2l8    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

was  not  frightened  at  it,  had  mass  said  in  her 
room  and  received  communion  with  open  doors, 
as  she  would  have  given  a  state  audience.  Pride 
inspired  or  sustained  her  courage;  for  as  soon  as 
the  ceremony  was  over,  she  had  those  present  dis- 
missed, and  asked  her  intimates  if  that  was  not 
dying  with  grandeur.  The  same  day,  she  had 
everyone  withdraw,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Mouchy  woman,  ordered  her  to  bring  her  ring 
casket,  which  was  worth  more  than  two  hundred 
thousand  ecus,  and  made  her  a  present  of  it.  The 
Mouchy  woman,  having  received  it  without  wit- 
nesses, feared  that  she  might  be  accused  of  having 
stolen  it,  an  accusation  that  her  reputation  would 
have  been  unable  to  destroy.  She  thought  it 
proper  therefore  to  declare  it  while  the  princess 
still  lived  and  went  with  her  husband  to  give  an 
account  of  the  matter  to  the  Regent.  The  prince, 
as  an  answer,  asked  for  the  casket,  took  it, 
examined  if  nothing  was  missing,  locked  it  in  a 
drawer  and  dismissed  her  with  an  order  not  to  re- 
turn to  la  Muette. 

During  the  two  days  which  she  still  lived,  the 
dying  woman  did  not  seem  to  notice  the  absence 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    219 

of  Mouchy ;  solely  occupied  with  her  last  moments, 
without  ostentation  or  feebleness,  she  asked  for 
the  last  sacraments  and  received  them  in  the 
presence  of  the  cure  of  Passy,  from  Abbe  de  Cas- 
tries, her  first  almoner,  appointed  at  the  time  Arch- 
bishop of  Tours,  and  who  has  been  that  of  Albi 
since  then.  The  physicians  having  no  more  hope, 
Garus'  elixir  was  suggested;  it  was  then  first  in 
vogue.  Garus  gave  it  himself  and  recommended 
specially  that  no  purgative  be  given,  as  otherwise 
his  elixir  would  become  a  poison.  In  a  few 
moments,  the  patient  seemed  revived  and  her  con- 
dition continued  better  until  the  following  day;  it 
is  claimed  that  Chirac,  from  a  physician's  point 
of  honour,  which  would  sacrifice  a  patient  rather 
than  leave  the  glory  of  a  cure  to  an  empiric,  made 
the  patient  take  a  purgative  and  immediately  she 
changed  for  the  worse  and  died  during  the  night 
of  the  2Oth  and  2ist  of  July.  Garus  charged 
murder  against  Chirac,  who  was  not  the  least 
affected,  looked  at  the  empiric  with  cold  contempt 
and  left  la  Muette,  where  there  was  nothing  else 
for  him  to  do. 

Thus  ended,    at   twenty-four,    the   life    of   a 


220     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

princess  equally  celebrated  for  her  wit,  beauty, 
charms,  folly  and  vices.  Her  mother  and  grand- 
mother heard  of  her  death  with  more  satisfaction 
than  sorrow.  The  father  was  in  the  greatest 
grief;  but,  perhaps  without  giving  it  thought,  he 
soon  felt  relieved  to  no  longer  have  to  bear  the 
whims  and  angers  of  a  mad-woman,  and  the  per- 
secution of  an  extravagant  marriage.  The  prin- 
cess was  after  all  regretted  by  no  one,  because  the 
pay  and  lodgings  were  continued  to  her  entire 
household,  with  the  exception  of  the  Mouchy 
woman,  who  was  exiled  to  her  estate. 

The  Due  de  Saint-Simon  claims  that  at  the 
opening  of  the  body  of  the  Duchesse  de  Berri 
it  was  found  that  she  had  already  become  enceinte. 
At  all  events,  she  had  lost  no  time  since  her  con- 
finement. Saint-Simon  must  have  been  well  in- 
formed, for  his  wife  was  present  at  the  opening, 
as  lady  of  honour  of  the  princess. 

The  heart  was  taken  to  the  Val-de-Grace  and 
her  body  to  Saint-Denis.  There  was  no  holy 
water,  no  ceremony;  the  funeral  was  simple,  and 
at  the  service  those  in  charge  prudently  abstained 
from  all  orations.  The  King's  mourning  lasted 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     221 

six  weeks,  and  although  the  Court  wears  mourning 
out  of  respect  only  as  long  as  the  King,  they  wore 
it  three  months,  as  long  as  the  Regent  did,  and 
the  theatres  were  closed  for  a  week. 

A  trifle  can  give  another  example  of  the  prin- 
cess's character.  At  the  beginning  of  her  illness, 
she  dedicated  her  household  to  white  for  six 
months;  and  to  accomplish  that  vow,  she  ordered 
coach,  harness  and  livery  in  silver,  wishing  at  least 
to  exalt,  by  display,  this  devotion. 

The  daughter  of  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  and  of 
the  Comte  de  Riom,  whom  I  saw  in  my  youth,  is 
at  the  present  time  a  nun  at  Pontoise,  with  a  pea- 
sion  of  three  hundred  livres. 

A  death  which  did  not  create  so  great  a  sen- 
sation as  that  of  which  I  have  just  spoken  was 
the  death  of  Mme.  de  Maintenon,  whose  name 
had,  for  thirty-five  years,  resounded  throughout 
Europe.  From  the  moment  she  had  lost  the 
King,  she  retired  to  Saint-Cyr  and  never  left  it 
again.  She  lived  there  with  the  equivocal 
etiquette  of  a  dowager  Queen.  When  the  Queen 
of  England  went  to  dine  with  her,  each:  one  had 
her  arm-chair;  the  young  pupils  of  the  house 


222    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

waited  upon  them,  and  everything  proclaimed 
equality.  A  few  former  friends  of  the  old  Court 
called  on  her,  and  always  after  having  notified  her 
in  advance,  so  that  she  might  appoint  the  day  and 
hour.  Beloved,  feared  and  respected  in  the 
house,  she  divided  her  days  between  exercises  of 
piety  and  the  education  of  a  certain  number  of 
pupils  who  were  attached  to  her  chamber. 

The  Due  du  Maine  was  the  only  one  who  could 
call  on  her  without  asking  her  permission.  He 
often  paid  his  respects  to  her  and  was  received 
with  the  tenderness  of  a  mother.  She  was  more 
affected  by  the  degradation  of  this  adopted  son 
than  she  had  been  by  the  King's  death.  On  learn- 
ing that  he  was  arrested,  she  gave  way  to  her 
grief;  she  was  seized  with  a  fever,  and,  after 
lingering  for  three  months,  died  at  eighty-three 
years  of  age,  Saturday,  April  i5th. 

Meanwhile  the  army  of  France  was  stirring 
in  Navarre.  Fontarabie  and  Saint-Sebastien  were 
taken  and  the  army  of  Spain  was  not  in  condition 
to  oppose  ours.  Her  fleet  had  been  beaten  the 
year  before  by  Admiral  Bing,  commander  of  the 
English  fleet;  and  Captain  Bing,  son  of  Admiral 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     223 

• 
Bing,  brought  this  news  to  Paris.     He  is  the  one 

who  has  since  paid  with  his  life  the  misfortune  he 
had  experienced  before  Mahon  at  the  beginning 
of  the  present  war.  His  blood  justly  or  unjustly 
shed  has  been  the  cause  of  all  the  English  victories. 
Whatever  disasters  we  may  have  had,  we  could 
rise  again  some  day,  if  we  had  learned  from  those 
rivals  that  it  is  necessary  to  reward  and  to  punish. 
While  war  was  being  waged  on  Spain,  efforts 
were  being  made  to  discover  those  who  had  cor- 
respondence with  Alberoni.  The  Regent  did  not 
wish  that  a  formal  proceeding  be  brought  against 
the  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine;  but  he  also 
feared  that  he  might  be  reproached  of  having  had 
them  arrested  out  of  personal  hatred.  That  is 
why  he  demanded  that  the  Duchesse  du  Maine 
make  a  statement  of  the  entire  intrigue  with  Cel- 
lamare  and  Alberoni.  Whatever  evasions  she 
made  use  of  in  her  confession,  the  fact  still  re- 
mained that  the  project  was  to  bring  about  a  re- 
bellion against  the  Regent  in  Paris,  the  provinces 
and  specially  in  Brittany,  where  the  Spanish  shipsi 
were  to  be  received.  To  exonerate  her  husband, 
she  declared  that  he  was  too  timid  to  have  her  ever 


224    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

confide  to  him  a  design  of  which  he  would  have 
been  afraid,  and  which  he  would  surely  have  re- 
vealed. If  the  Due  du  Maine  was  relieved  at  see- 
ing himself  justified,  he  can  not  have  been  much 
flattered  at  the  reasons. 

She  however  named  all  those  who  had  taken 
part  in  the  conspiracy,  among  whom  were  several 
Breton  noblemen. 

I  have  read  the  report  of  the  trial  of  those  who 
were  executed  at  Nantes;  I  have  conversed  about 
this  affair  several  times  with  some  of  the  judges 
and  with  some  of  those  who  were  hanged  in  effigy; 
I  have  never  seen  a  plot  so  badly  organised.  Sev- 
eral did  not  even  know  what  it  was  all  about,  or 
were  not  in  accord  with  one  another.  The  greater 
number  only  thought  that  there  was  to  be  a  revolu- 
tion, and  promised  to  assist  in  it,  and  many  had 
given  their  word  and  their  signature  without  look- 
ing further  into  the  matter.  Some  have  confessed 
to  me  a  piece  of  folly  in  whicH.  I  would  have 
thought  it  impossible  to  fall  into  were  not  their 
statements  confirmed  by  the  declaration  of  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine.  They  expected,  they  said,  to 
carry  away  the  King  on  one  of  his  voyages  to  Ram- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    225 

bouillet,  to  take  him  to  Brittany  and  to  dictate 
terms  to  the  Regent.  In  following  the  different 
links  of  this  affair,  a  certain  Breton  found  himself 
implicated  whom  the  name  of  the  Duchesse  du 
Maine  had  never  reached.  One  could  not  help 
but  have  compassion  for  certain  accomplices  whom 
I  have  seen,  when  one  considered  their  little  per- 
sonal worth. 

The  Due  and  the  Duchesse  du  Maine  were 
finally  set  free,  and  the  Regent  successively  liber- 
ated all  those  who  were  in  the  Bastille  for  the  same 
affair.  It  is  very  probable  that  he  would  have  ex- 
ercised the  same  clemency  towards  the  Breton  no- 
blemen, had  he  not  been  persuaded  to  punish  some- 
one. A  commission  was  therefore  appointed 
which  went  to  sit  at  Nantes  to  examine  the  case 
against  the  accused.  Thus  were  the  most  inno- 
cent or  at  least  the  most  excusable  sacrificed. 

Love  of  country  will  not  make  me  partial,  nor 
make  me  betray  the  truth,  but  I  shall  render  justice 
to  a  province  nobly  attached  to  the  King  and  who 
was  appealing  against  the  violation  of  its  privi- 
leges. The  people  most  jealous  of  their  rights 
are  the  most  attached  to  their  duties  and  the  dis- 


226     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

satisfaction  of  the  Bretons  was  well  founded. 
The  Etats  had  asked  an  accounting  from  Mon- 
taran,  their  treasurer;  nothing  was  more  just  and 
interested  the  State  less.  The  Regent,  on  the  con- 
trary, should  have  approved  a  conduct  so  regu- 
lar. Unfortunately  for  the  province,  Montaran. 
had  a  brother,  captain  in  the  guards,  a  great  gam- 
bler and  very  well  known.  Such  a  subject  is  an 
interesting  man  at  Paris.  He  made  use  of  the 
credit  of  several  women,  who  clearly  proved  that 
much  consideration  was  due  to  the  brother  of  a 
man  so  useful  to  society,  and  the  Etats  got  the 
worst  of  their  undertaking.  After  this,  displeas- 
ure took  hold  of  the  good  citizens  and,  if  they 
ceased  being  such,  the  Regent  should  have  blamed 
himself  as  having  been  the  first  cause,  in  sacrificing 
justice  and  order  to  the  intrigues  of  women.  We 
shall  see  the  unfortunate  outcome  of  this,  when  I 
shall  have  reported  a  few  previous  events,  so  as 
not  to  reverse  too  much  the  order  of  time. 

The  Due  de  Richelieu  was  one  of  the  first  to 
obtain  his  liberty.  He  did  not  appear  at  Court  at 
first,  but  after  two  or  three  months  of  voyages 
from  one  country  place  to  another,  he  showed  him- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    227 

self  with  a  glamour  of  importance  which  impris- 
onment for  an  affair  of  State  gave  him,  and  the 
brilliant  air  of  a  young  man  who  owes  his  freedom 
to  love. 

I  shall  sometimes  have  occasion  to  speak  of  him, 
if  I  continue  these  memoirs  to  the  time  I  have  in 
view.  There  will  be  seen  a  rather  singular  man, 
who  always  has  sought  notoriety,  and  has  not  suc- 
ceeded in  becoming  celebrated,  who,  employed  in 
negotiations  and  at  the  head  of  armies,  has  never 
been  looked  upon  as  a  statesman,  but  as  the  leader 
of  people  of  fashion  of  whom  he  has  remained  the 
dean. 

The  reader  has  seen  in  what  his  crime  consisted. 
To  understand  what  caused  his  absolution,  it  must 
be  known  that  at  the  time  of  the  bed  of  justice, 
Berthelot  de  Pleneuf,  become  rich  in  furnishing 
supplies  for  the  army  hospitals,  fled  to  Turin.  As 
his  mind  was  not  less  inclined  to  intrigue  than  it 
was  to  business,  he  became  intimate  with  office 
clerks,  insinuated  himself  little  by  little  with  the 
ministers  of  that  Court,  and  to  create  merit  for 
himself  which  might  secure  a  pleasant  return  to 
France,  he  undertook  to  negotiate  the  marriage 


of  Mile,  de  Valois  with  the  Prince  de  Piemont, 
son  of  King  Victor.  When  he  saw  the  proposition 
rather  well  received  at  Turin,  he  directed  his  wife, 
whom  he  had  left  in  Paris,  to  inform  the  Regent, 
who  favoured  the  marriage  very  much,  and  charged 
Abbe  Dubois  to  follow  up  the  matter.  He  could 
not  have  selected  worse.  The  abbe,  with  the  idea 
of  making  himself  agreeable  to  the  Emperor, 
whose  protection  was  to  procure  for  him  the  cardi- 
nal's hat,  favoured  the  project  which  that  prince 
had  of  taking  Sicily  from  King  Victor.  He  was 
therefore  careful  not  to  allow  the  Regent  to  enter 
into  any  engagement  with  the  Court  of  Turin. 
He  decided  to  show  much  enthusiasm  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  marriage,  in  fear  that  the  negotiation 
might  be  given  to  someone  else,  and  meanwhile 
to  make  it  fail.  He  very  cleverly  made  use  of  cir- 
cumstances and  of  the  knowledge  he  possessed  of 
the  character  of  Madame,  the  Regent's  mother. 

While  negotiations  were  going  on  for  the  mar- 
riage of  Mile,  de  Valois,  that  princess  had  fallen 
in  love  with  the  Due  de  Richelieu;  the  fatuity  of 
the  one,  the  giddiness  of  the  other  caused  enough 
gossip  to  have  the  matter  come  to  the  ears  of  Ma- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    229 

dame.  She  received  the  information  with  as  much 
of  haughtiness  as  of  virtue,  kept  her  grand- 
daughter with  her  as  much  as  possible  and  had  the 
Due  de  Richelieu  notified  that,  if  he  cared  for  his 
life,  he  had  better  stay  away  from  where  she  was. 

The  Due  de  Richelieu  was  prudent  enough  to 
profit  by  the  advice;  besides  he  had  secured  from 
the  adventure  what  was  to  him  the  most  precious 
fruit,  the  notoriety. 

Abbe  Dubois  selected  this  moment  to  allow  the 
negotiations  about  the  marriage  of  the  Prince  de 
Piemont  to  transpire.  This  news  reached  Ma- 
dame, who  maintained  a  very  friendly  correspond- 
ence with  the  Queen  of  Sicily.  In  the  humour  in 
which  she  was  towards  her  granddaughter,  she 
found  nothing  better  than  immediately  to  write  to 
the  Queen  that  she  was  too  much  her  friend  to 
make  her  so  bad  a  present  as  Mile,  de  Valois.  A 
few  days  after,  and  when  the  letter  must  have 
been  to  hand,  Madame  confessed  to  the  Due  and 
the  Duchesse  d'Orleans  the  handsome  act  of  frank- 
ness she  had  performed.  The  Duchesse  d'Orleans 
was  in  despair;  Mile,  de  Valois  cared  but  little, 
Abbe  Dubois  pretended  to  be  angry  and  applauded 


230    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

himself  secretly  for  his  rascally  scheme;  the  Regent 
only  laughed  at  his  mother's  German  outburst  and 
troubled  himself  but  little  about  his  wife's  grief. 
However,  he  thought  of  disposing  of  his  daughter, 
fearing  that  she  might  follow  in  the  footsteps  of 
the  Duchesse  de  Berri,  her  sister,  and  although  not 
over-delicate  in  the  matter  of  the  morals  of  his 
family,  he  wished  to  prevent  errors  still  more  strik- 
ing in  a  young  woman  than  in  a  widow,  and  was 
not  long  in  concluding  the  marriage  of  Mile,  de 
Valois  with  the  prince,  son  of  the  Duke  of  Mo- 
dena,  who  was  much  honoured  by  this  alliance; 
and,  whatever  reports  may  or  may  not  have 
reached  him  about  the  princess,  he  had  no  right  to 
be  particular. 

Mile,  de  Valois  did  not  make  up  her  mind  quite 
so  easily;  but  she  had  to  obey.  She  demanded  at 
least,  as  a  price  of  her  sacrifice,  the  pardon  of 
the  Due  de  Richelieu,  who  secured  from  love 
what  he  would  have  eventually  obtained  from  the 
Regent. 

At  this  rime  the  Regent  was  much  less  en- 
grossed by  his  domestic  afflictions  than  by  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    231 

troubles  of  the  Parliament.  That  assembly,  at 
first  dismayed  at  the  bed  of  justice,  had  recovered! 
from  its  stupefaction;  its  principle  is  to  consider 
legal  only  those  of  the  registerings  that  had  been, 
made  freely  and  after  examination. 

Registry  is  not,  according  to  its  maxims,  a  sim- 
ple act  of  evidence;  it  thinks,  without  however 
saying  it  formally,  that  it  sanctions  a  law  which  it 
registers,  and  that  all  that  the  King  does  on  his 
own  initiative  and  without  freedom  of  suffrage,  is 
void.  I  shall  not  launch  into  so  delicate  a  dis- 
cussion. Still,  it  is  to  be  desired  that  there  should 
be,  to  an  absolute  authority,  a  counterpoise  to  pre- 
vent it  from  becoming  arbitrary. 

I  have  at  times  sought  to  discuss  these  principles 
with  men  learned  in  our  laws  and  in  our  history. 
One  of  the  most  enlightened  and  zealous  parlia- 
mentarians whom  I  asked  to  point  out  to  me  the 
precise  limit  which  separates  usurpation  from  the 
rights  of  the  Parliaments:  "The  principles  in 
this  matter,"  he  replied,  "  are  quite  obscure,  but  as 
a  fact,  the  Parliament  is  strong  under  a  weak  King, 
and  weak  under  a  strong  King."  An  honest  min- 


232    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

ister  would  perhaps  give  the  same  reply  if  he  were 
obliged  to  express  himself  on  the  royal  power,  as 
compared  to  the  nation. 

The  Regent,  much  displeased  at  the  Parlia- 
ment's resistance  against  the  operations  of  Law, 
had  decided  to  get  along  without  registry,  but  he 
did  not  the  less  feel  the  necessity  of  reckoning  with 
public  opinion  because  the  public  thinks  much  of 
Parliament.  Yet  Law  had  nothing  to  desire  for 
the  success  of  his  system.  The  bank  notes,  the 
stocks,  all  the  various  papers  were  preferred  to 
money  which  has  a  value  set  by  all  nations,  while 
on  the  other  hand,  paper  moneys,  having  an  ideal 
value,  are  always  susceptible  to  that  which  the 
imagination  places  upon  them. 

It  would  be  hard  to-day  to  make  people  under- 
stand the  frenzy  which  possessed  all  minds. 
There  are  follies  that  are  proper  only  while  they 
are  epidemic.  Law,  who  foresaw  better  than  any 
one  else  what  the  ending  of  his  play  would  be, 
would  have  very  much  liked  to  strengthen  i{  with 
the  approbation  of  the  Parliament,  and  by  that  to 
shelter  its  author  from  public  prosecution.  But 
the  Regent  always  found  the  greatest  opposition 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    233 

in  Parliament,  perhaps  as  much  against  the  novelty 
as  against  the  folly  of  the  system. 

Law,  having  no  longer  hope  to  succeed  with 
that  assembly,  conceived  the  project  to  destroy  it. 
With  the  support  of  Dubois  and  of  the  Due  de  la 
Force,  he  persuaded  the  Regent  to  reimburse  in 
paper  the  prices  paid  for  all  magistrates'  offices. 
The  public,  he  claimed,  would  see  with  pleasure 
the  venality  of  offices  suppressed;  the  King  would 
thus  become  master  of  the  Parliament,  and  each 
position  of  president  or  of  councilor  would  then 
only  be  a  revocable  appointment. 

Whatever  may  be  the  venality  of  offices,  one 
understands,  after  a  careful  examination,  that  it  is 
as  dangerous  to  suppress  as  to  establish  certain 
abuses. 

The  reimbursement  of  prices  paid  for  offices, 
followed  by  the  new  plan  of  administration  which 
was  proposed,  destroyed  the  magistracy,  and  of 
what  necessity  is  it  not  in  France?  If  the  Parlia- 
ment has  at  times  unseasonably  hampered  the 
progress  of  the  government,  what  services  has  it 
not  rendered?  Even  those  who  composed  the 
Parliament  of  the  Ligue  declared  themselves,  in 


234    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  midst  of  the  Guises  and  the  Spaniards,  in  fa- 
vour of  the  principles  of  the  monarchy.  It  is 
therefore  the  Parliament  which  has  preserved  the 
crown  to  the  reigning  house.  However  exagger- 
ated may  be  his  pretensions,  if  the  King  makes  his 
power  feared,  it  is  the  Parliament,  which  causes  it 
to  be  respected.  What  advantage  is  it  not  for  the 
King  to  have  a  Body  whose  principles,  always  sub- 
sisting, oppose  themselves  to  the  enterprises  of  the 
Court  of  Rome,  even  to  those  of  the  clergy  of 
France,  secular  or  regular?  What  an  advantage 
for  the  subjects,  that  this  same  Body  should  be  able 
to  place  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  excesses  of 
ministerial  credit!  The  Parliament  can  make  up 
for  the  weakness  of  a  timid  prince  and  enlighten 
a  King  powerful,  but  superstitious,  against  the 
suggestions  of  a  fanatical  confessor.  On  how 
many  occasions  can  not  a  King  allow  a  good  act  to 
be  performed  which  his  prudence  prevents  him 
from  doing  openly ! 

Although  appointments  to  livings  are  not  his- 
torical events,  I  shall  speak  of  those  which  may 
have  something  strange  in  them.  Abbe  de  la 
Tour-d'Auvergne  was  named  to  the  archbishopric 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     235 

of  Tours.  Abbe  de  Thesul,  who  was  writing  the 
list  at  the  dictation  of  the  Regent:  "Ah,  Mon- 
seigneur,  what  a  subject!  "  he  exclaimed,  "  beware 
of  the  scandal." 

"What  the  devil!"  replied  the  Regent;  "I 
know  it,  but  the  Bouillons  are  persecuting  me;  I 
wish  to  rid  myself  of  them;  write  ahead." 

Thesul  wrote.  At  the  same  time  there  was 
named  as  bishop  of  Sisteron,  the  Jesuit  Laffiteau, 
charge  d'  affaires  at  Rome,  where  he  lived  in  the 
same  manner  as  Nuncio  Bentivoglio  lived  in 
Paris;  so  that  before  being  consecrated,  he  was 
obliged  to  stay  forty  days  at  a  surgeon's,  which 
stay  served  him  as  a  retreat  in  a  seminary.  He 
was  one  of  the  great  supporters  of  the  Constitu- 
tion. This,  however,  is  not  what  made  him  a 
bishop. 

Abbe  Dubois,  having  imparted  to  him  the  de- 
sire to  become  a  cardinal,  paid  him  in  Rome  to  pre- 
pare the  way  for  him.  The  Jesuit,  who  had  the 
same  aims,  took  the  money  and  used  it  in  his  own 
interest.  Rascals  guess  one  another's  aims:  the 
abbe  noticed  it,  and  not  being  yet  powerful  enough 
to  avenge  himself  in  a  manner  which  would  have 


236    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

revealed  his  designs,  resolved  to  get  rid  of  him, 
on  the  pretext  of  rewarding  his  services.  Laffi- 
teau,  so  different  from  the  former  bishops,  became 
one,  as  they,  in  spite  of  himself. 

Kept  away  from  both  Rome  and  the  Court,  he 
saw  himself  politely  relegated  to  Sisteron. 

Le  Blanc,  secretary  of  state,  taking  advantage 
of  his  credit,  on  the  same  occasion,  caused  the 
bishopric  of  Avranches  to  be  given  to  Abbe  Le 
Blanc,  his  brother,  curate  of  Dammartin,  an  honest 
man,  and  good  ecclesiastic. 

Abbe  Guerin  de  Tencin  went  to  replace  Laffi- 
teau  at  Rome,  so  that  people  would  not  notice  that 
anything  had  been  lost  in  the  change.  The 
former,  in  many  respects,  was  better  than  his  pred- 
ecessor. The  son  of  a  president  in  the  Parlia- 
ment of  Grenoble,  born  with  an  attractive  face 
and  intelligence,  specially  that  of  intrigue,  lacking 
the  scruples  and  morality  of  his  position,  he 
reached  the  highest  place,  since  he  died  Cardinal 
and  Archbishop  of  Lyons. 

He  was  excellently  assisted  in  his  career  by  a  sis- 
ter who  was  a  canoness,  who  made  but  one  with 
her  brother,  and  who  passed  to  him  all  the  ambi- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    237 

tion  she  would  have  had,  had  her  sex  permitted  it. 
She  kept  to  herself  only  gallantry,  which  she  has 
used  as  often  as  a  means  of  success  as  for  her 
pleasures.  I  knew  her  very  well;  one  could  not 
have  more  wit,  and  she  always  took  possession  of 
that  of  the  person  with  whom  she  had  to  deal. 
The  brother  and  sister  had  imagined  a  progres- 
sive system  of  flattery,  and  although  they  were  in- 
discreet enough  to  confess  it,  and  carried  it  to  the 
verge  of  disgust,  they  were  always  successful  with 
it.  The  genius  of  the  cleverest  intriguer  van- 
ished before  that  of  the  Tencin  woman.  She  was 
very  pretty  while  young,  and  retained  in  advanced 
age  all  the  attractions  of  the  mind.  She  was 
liked  even  by  those  who  were  not  ignorant  of  her 
adventures. 

Her  parents  made  her  a  nun  against  her  will  in 
the  Convent  of  Mont-Fleury,  near  Grenoble.  In 
taking  her  vows,  she  thought  of  a  means  of  break- 
ing them,  and  her  director  was  the  blind  instru- 
ment she  used  for  her  designs.  He  was  a  good 
ecclesiastic,  very  shallow,  who  fell  in  love  with  her 
without  in  the  least  suspecting  it.  The  penitent 
made  no  mistake,  cleverly  profited  by  the  foible  of 


238     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  holy  man,  made  him  her  zealous  agent,  se- 
cured from  him  the  necessary  information,  and 
when  matters  reached  the  point  she  wished,  she 
protested  against  her  vows,  and  finally  succeeded  ia 
going  from  her  cloister  to  a  chapter  at  Neuville, 
near  Lyons,  as  canoness. 

I  have  all  these  particulars  from  her  person- 
ally. She  soon  was  as  free  as  she  wished.  The 
liking  which  Abbe  Dubois  took  to  her  did  the  rest. 
I  have  heard  it  said  that  she  had  an  intrigue  with 
the  Regent  which  did  not  last;  she  hurried  too 
much  to  obtain  her  ends  and  disgusted  the  prince, 
who  only  took  her  as  a  passing  fancy  and  said 
that  he  did  not  like  p — s  who  speak  of  business 
between  the  sheets.  She  fell  from  the  master  to 
the  valet  and  the  influence  which  she  acquired  over 
Abbe  Dubois  consoled  her.  This  was  not  her  first 
affair;  she  already  had  had  a  child  in  1717  by 
Destouches,  commonly  called  Destouches-Canon. 

She  loved  her  brother,  the  Abbe  de  Tencin,  very 
much,  and  his  advancement  became  almost  the  sole 
object  of  her  intrigues.  Not  in  the  least  inter- 
ested, she  looked  upon  money  as  a  means  of  suc- 
cess, and  not  as  an  aim  worthy  of  satisfying  her. 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    239 

She  never  enjoyed  more  than  a  moderate  income 
and  wished  riches  only  for  her  brother,  so  that  it 
might  assist  him  in  his  ambition.  She  was  very 
serviceable  when  she  had  no  contrary  interests. 
Her  great  desire  was  to  have  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing a  good  friend  or  a  declared  enemy,  cleverly 
took  the  opportunity  to  persuade  people  of  this 
and  thus  attached  to  herself  many;  persons  of 
merit. 

She  did  not  require  all  her  influence  over  Du- 
bois  to  interest  him  in  favor  of  Abbe  de  Tencin. 
The  former  soon  saw  that  the  other  was  the  work- 
man he  needed.  He  began  by  interesting  him 
with  an  ecclesiastic  operation  which  was  not  diffi- 
cult and  which  yet  was  to  make  a  noise.  This  was 
Law's  conversion.  This  Scotchman  already  knevr 
France  well  enough  to  realise  that  culprits  who 
have  held  high  places  are  seldom  punished.  Con- 
sequently, he  wished  to  become  controller-general. 
He  could  not  secure  this  place  without  being  natu- 
ralised nor  be  naturalised  without  being  a  Catho- 
lic. He  claimed  to  be  a  Protestant  and  Abbe  de 
Tencin  was  intrusted  with  this  proselyte. 

After  the  time  supposedly  required  for  such  a 


240    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

conversion,  Law  made  his  solemn  renunciation  at 
Melun,  for  fear  that  it  might  be  taken  as  a  joke 
in  the  capital,  and  Abbe  de  Tencin  drew  from  this 
pious  task  many  shares  of  stock  and  bank  notes. 
Yet  I  see,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  his  sister,  that  he 
complains  that  his  fortune  does  not  respond  to 
public  opinion,  and  much  regrets  not  to  have  justi- 
fied it.  However  that  may  be,  this  sort  of  simony 
did  not  bring  him  into  trouble,  but  he  was  in- 
formed against  to  the  Parliament  for  another,  by  a 
certain  Abbe  de  Vessiere,  and  made  a  gigantic 
blunder  in  this  proceeding,  where  he  sat  in  person 
during  the  pleading.  Aubry,  the  opposing  coun- 
sel, having  seemingly  weakened  in  his  allega- 
tions, Abbe  de  Tencin's  lawyer  wishing  to  take 
advantage  of  this,  argued  against  a  charge  both 
vague  and  destitute  of  proof,  and  denied  the  simo- 
niacal  transaction.  Aubry  pretended  to  be  em- 
barrassed. The  abbe  thought  to  perform  won- 
ders by  seizing  the  opportunity  to  confound  the 
calumny  and  offered  to  purge  himself  of  it  by  oath, 
if  the  Court  permitted  it.  Immediately  Aubry 
stopped  him,  said  that  there  was  no  need  of  it  and 
produced  the  original  of  the  agreement.  It  was 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    241 

most  dramatic.  The  judges  showed  their  indigna- 
tion; hisses  and  shouts  arose  from  those  present; 
the  abbe,  confounded,  tried  to  escape,  but  some 
charitable  people  hindered  his  passage  and  allowed 
him  to  go  only  after  having  exposed  him  to  public 
view  for  some  little  time. 

Abbe  de  Tencin,  having  nothing  else  to  keep 
him  in  Paris,  left  for  the  Rome  Embassy.  I  see 
in  his  letters  that  he  never  recovered  from  that 
affair.  We  shall  soon  see  him  at  Rome,  profiting 
by  the  lesson  in  prudence  he  had  received  in  the 
Parliament,  himself  show  how  a  signed  agreement 
may  be  turned  to  account. 

The  motive  which  has  caused  me  to  speak  of  an 
appointment  to  livings,  which  demanded  a  few  re- 
marks, prompts  me  to  linger  a  little  over  the  nam- 
ing of  the  cardinals  of  the  same  year.  Belluga, 
Bishop  of  Murcia  in  Spain,  was  one.  This  prel- 
ate had  rendered  the  greatest  services  to  Philip  V 
in  the  war  of  the  succession.  When  this  prince 
was  obliged  to  flee  his  capital,  Belluga  exhorted 
the  inhabitants  of  his  diocese  to  fidelity  and,  com- 
bining to  a  pathetic  sermon  an  example  which  was 
even  more  so,  paid  out  of  his  own  money  two 


242     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

months'  pay  to  the  soldiers,  made  the  army  subsist, 
in  short,  fired  all  the  Spaniards  with  a  heroism 
which  returned  the  King  to  the  throne.  Belluga, 
thinking  that  he  had  only  done  his  duty,  did  not 
appear  at  Court  after  the  King's  restoration,  and 
in  his  diocese  only  busied  himself  with  his  episcopal 
duties. 

We  have  seen  that  Alberoni,  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  war  against  the  Emperor,  had  asked 
an  indult  from  the  pope  through  Philip  V  by  virtue 
of  which  all  ecclesiastic  property  was  taxed.  The 
tax  was  extended  much  beyond  the  indult.  Bel- 
luga, looking  upon  the  over-tax  as  a  misuse  of 
authority,  refused  to  pay.  The  example  of  so 
respected  a  prelate  was  followed  by  the  entire 
clergy.  The  pope,  displeased  at  Philip  V,  revoked 
the  indult,  and  the  King,  wishing  on  his  own  au- 
thority to  continue  to  levy  the  assessment,  uselessly 
threatened  the  Bishop  of  Murcia,  who  persisted  in 
his  refusal. 

In  these  circumstances,  the  pope  made  a  pro- 
motion of  ten  cardinals  and  included  Belluga  in  it. 
This  prelate  declared  that  he  would  not  accept 
without  the  permission  of  the  King  his  master,  who 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    243 

was  far  from  giving  it.  Philip  V,  considering  this 
appointment  as  a  personal  insult,  no  sooner  heard 
of  it  than  he  sent  word  to  Belluga  forbidding  him 
to  accept;  but  the  refusal  had  forestalled  the 
King's  order.  The  pope,  then  more  displeased 
than  the  prince,  wrote  to  Belluga  a  brief,  bearing 
the  order  to  take  the  purple  in  virtue  of  holy 
obedience.  Belluga  replied  to  the  Holy-Father 
that  it  was  indifferent  to  religion  whether  he  be- 
came cardinal  or  not,  but  that  it  was  a  part  of  a 
subject's  duty  to  obey  his  prince.  The  pope 
threatened  the  prelate,  who  was  no  more  affected 
by  the  Holy-Father's  threats  than  he  had  been  by 
those  of  the  King  about  the  tax,  did  not  in  the  least 
pride  himself  of  this  at  Court,  and  refused  the  hat 
as  steadily  as  the  assessment. 

Several  months  after,  an  arrangement  was 
made  between  the  two  courts,  without  Belluga  in- 
teresting himself  in  it;  then  the  King  sent  to  Rome 
his  nomination  to  the  cardinalship  in  favor  of  Bel- 
luga, to  whom  he  gave  orders  at  the  same  time  to 
accept.  The  cardinal  came  to  Madrid,  presented 
his  hat  to  the  King,  received  it  at  his  hands  and 
returned  to  his  diocese. 


244     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

One  never  would  believe  that  such  conduct  was 
that  of  a  Spanish  prelate;  here  is  the  contrast  in  a 
French  cardinal  of  the  same  promotion. 

Mailly,  of  an  ancient  nobility  of  Picardy,  born- 
poor,  and  who  remained  thus  a  long  time,  had  at 
last  succeeded  in  becoming  Archbishop  of  Aries 
and  then  of  Reims.  All  he  lacked  to  crown 'his 
fortune,  was  the  cardinal's  hat;  and  he  had  aspired 
to  this  from  the  time  when  he  was  hardly  able  to 
dress  himself.  He  kept  up  a  continued  corre- 
spondence with  those  who  held  offices  in  Rome,  and 
held  the  matter  the  more  secret  as  he  had  almost 
been  ruined  during  the  reign  of  the  late  King  for 
having  written  to  the  pope.  It  was  then  a  State 
crime  for  an  ecclesiastic  to  write  to  Rome  except 
through  the  minister  of  foreign  affairs  or  through 
the  commission-bankers.  It  required,  to  save  him 
and  to  have  him  appointed  to  Reims,  all  the  in- 
fluence of  Father  Tellier.  But  as  soon  as  the  Con- 
stitution had  caused  our  principles  to  be  forgotten 
and  the  Regent  had  permitted  all  licence,  Mailly 
no  longer  constrained  himself. 

Jealous  of  the  consideration  enjoyed  by  Car- 
dinal de  Noailles,  he  undertook  to  distinguish  him- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    245 

self  in  the  opposition  party,  and  soon  left  in  it 
behind  him  the  most  fanatic  partisans,  whom  he 
called  lukewarm  ones.  He  was  so  flattered  to  see 
one  of  his  pastoral  letters  burnt  by  a  decree  of 
Parliament  that  he  founded  "  a  mass  of  thanks- 
giving, for  having  been  worthy  of  participating  in 
the  opprobrium  of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  suffering 
for  justice."  He  hoped  that  the  Parliament  might 
attack  him  in  this  matter,  but  it  was  so  clear  that 
he  aspired  to  the  title  of  martyr,  whose  crown 
would  be  the  cardinal's  hat,  that  as  a  punishment 
he  was  left  in  peace. 

Still  his  outburst  did  wonders  for  him  at  Rome, 
and  he  finally  won  the  pope's  heart  by  requesting 
him  to  impart  his  sermons  to  him,  "  of  which,"  he 
said,  "  people  spoke  with  admiration."  It  was 
the  sensitive  spot  of  the  good  Clement  XI,  who 
prided  himself  on  writing  Latin  in  a  superior  man- 
ner, and  that  might  well  be,  with  the  aid  of  Father 
Jouvency  and  others.  The  pope,  delighted  at  find- 
ing at  the  same  time  so  much  religion  and  taste  in 
Mailly,  named  him  cardinal  proprio  motu. 

The  Regent,  already  much  displeased  with  the 
archbishop,  broke  into  a  most  violent  anger,  and 


246    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

at  once  ordered  Villeron,  ensign  of  the  gardes  du 
corps,  to  go  to  Reims  and  forbid  the  archbishop 
from  leaving  there  and  from  wearing  the  hat;  to 
take  it  away  if  he  saw  it  on  him,  and  if  he  met  him 
on  the  road  to  make  him  go  back. 

La  Vrilliere,  nephew  of  the  archbishop,  had 
dispatched  a  courier  to  him  to  warn  him  of  the 
Regent's  anger,  and  avoid  the  imprudences  which 
his  infatuation  for  the  hat  might  make  him  com- 
mit. This  did  not  prevent  him  from  leaving  for 
Paris  and  he  had  already  passed  Soissons  when 
Villeron  met  him.  Fortunately  the  archbishop 
did  not  have  his  hat:  he  was  too  well  warned. 
Villeron  was  very  glad  not  to  have  to  do  any 
violence,  notified  him  of  his  orders,  exhorted  him 
to  turn  back  and  after  much  parleying,  took  him 
back  to  Soissons,  where  they  slept.  The  next  day 
the  question  came  up  to  continue  on  towards 
Reims.  The  archbishop  said  to  Villeron  that  it 
was  useless  to  escort  him;  that  it  would  cause  a 
disagreeable  scandal;  that  the  order  was  as  good 
as  carried  out;  that  while  he  returned  to  Reims, 
Villeron  could  return  to  Paris  and  render  an  ac- 
count to  the  Regent  of  the  obedience  with  which 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    247 

feis  orders  had  been  received.  Villeron  gave  in, 
but  hardly  had  he  left,  when  the  archbishop  fol- 
lowed him  slowly  enough  so  as  not  to  catch  up  to 
him,  and  fast  enough  to  reach  Paris  on  the  same 
day.  There  he  went  in  hiding. 

Abbe  de  la  Fare,  an  active  and  talkative  in- 
triguer, always  sure  of  everything,  hard  to  dis- 
concert and  an  ideal  man  to  endure  Abbe  Dubois' 
first  broadside,  came  to  the  latter  in  the  name  of 
the  archbishop,  whose  grand  vicar  he  was. 
Dubois,  enraged  at  seeing  two  French  cardinals 
named  at  the  same  time,  feeling  that  a  third  hat, 
to  which  he  aspired  without  yet  daring  to  say  so, 
would  only  be  the  more  difficult  to  obtain,  had 
himself  aroused  the  Regent's  anger.  From  this 
one  can  imagine  how  he  received  La  Fare.  The 
storm  was  violent :  La  Fare  allowed  it  to  pass  en- 
tirely; then,  with  an  affectionate  air,  he  set  forth 
to  Abbe  Dubois  that  it  was  not  proper  in  a  man 
of  his  merit,  a  great  minister  as  he  was,  worthy  of 
being  a  cardinal,  to  oppose  the  favours  of  the 
pope,  begged  him  to  think  the  matter  over,  and 
withdrew. 

Abbe  Dubois  profited  by  the   advice,   under- 


248     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

stood  that  sooner  or  later  he  would  have  to 
reconcile  himself  to  that  affair,  and  that  it  was 
much  better  to  make  a  merit  of  it  at  Rome  than 
to  leave  it  to  others.  Besides  he  was  flattered  at 
the  Abbe  de  la  Fare  thinking  him  worthy  of  the 
purple!  The  project  was  then  natural;  but  he 
must  put  no  obstacles  in  the  way. 

He  sent  for  Abbe  de  la  Fare,  and,  without 
changing  too  quickly  from  the  fury  of  the  evening 
before  to  clumsy  endearments,  he  exhibited  only  a 
little  ill-humour  and  embarrassment.  La  Fare 
saw  through  him,  resolved  to  meet  him  half  way  by 
quickly  making  up  his  mind :  "  Monsieur,"  said 
he  to  him,  "  I  am  going  to  speak  frankly  to  you ; 
I  have  no  resentment  for  the  rough  way  in  which 
you  treated  me  yesterday;  I  saw  very  well  that 
you  spoke  to  me  as  minister.  You,  great  states- 
men, can  not  do  otherwise;  but  you  certainly  are 
not  sorry  to  do  something  agreeable  to  the  pope, 
of  whom  you  will  shortly  have  need,  for  it  is  easy 
to  see  that  you  can  not  fail  to  have  the  hat  soon." 
Then  La  Fare  launched  forth  into  praise,  with 
an  affected  simplicity  of  which  the  minister  was 
the  dupe.  Abbe  Dubois,  much  pleased  at  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    249 

opening  which  La  Fare  gave  him  to  get  out  of 
difficulty,  said  to  him  smiling :  "  You  are  too  clear- 
sighted, abbe:  I  must  confess  that  you  have 
guessed  my  wishes;  let  me  pacify  M.  le  Regent; 
only  send  word  to  your  archbishop  to  come  here 
secretly,  and  remain  concealed  until  he  hears  from 
me;  it  will  not  be  long."  Our  two  rascals  em- 
braced, praised  one  another  on  their  respective 
penetration  and  separated  well  pleased  with  one 
another,  each  applauding  himself.  La  Fare,  how- 
ever, had  more  reason  than  Dubois.  It  was 
finally  agreed  that  the  archbishop  would  go 
secretly  to  the  Palais-Royal,  would  offer  the 
Regent  the  most  respectful  apologies;  from  there 
would  return  to  Reims,  that  when  there  he  would 
take  neither  the  title,  nor  insignia  of  the  dignity 
of  cardinal;  that,  in  all  his  letters  addressed  to 
the  interior  of  the  kingdom,  he  would  sign  only 
Archbishop  of  Reims,  with  permission,  however, 
to  sign  Cardinal  de  Mailly  in  those  that  he  should 
write  to  foreign  lands. 

All  was  exactly  carried  out.  The  archbishop, 
having  returned  to  Reims,  languished  there  more 
than  three  months,  with  the  consolation  of  daily 


350    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

drawing  from  his  pocket  the  precious  calotte,  of 
looking  at  it,  of  pressing  it  to  his  lips,  of  trying 
it  on  before  the  mirror,  dying  of  impatience  to 
wear  it  in  public. 

The  Regent  wished  to  make  the  best  of  this 
situation  to  secure,  if  not  peace,  at  least  a  truce 
in  the  Church.  The  Cardinal  de  Noailles  had 
just  given  a  synopsis  of  a  doctrine  approved  by 
Cardinals  de  Rohan  and  de  Bissy,  and  which  they 
yet  had  the  art  of  causing  to  fail  later,  by  a 
priestly  trick.  It  was  necessary  to  have  the  ab- 
sent prelates  sign  the  work.  Care  should  be 
taken  not  to  forget  the  Archbishop  of  Reims, 
whose  signature  would  make  the  greater  impres- 
sion on  the  others  as  he  was  known  to  be  an  enemy 
of  Cardinal  de  Noailles ;  and  that  caused  a  refusal 
to  be  feared. 

Abbe  Dubois  proposed  this  commission  to  La 
Fare,  who  had  remained  in  Paris  as  negotiator  for 
his  archbishop.  La  Fare  raised  as  an  objection 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the  signature  of  a  man 
who  had  been  left  for  so  long  in  a  humiliating 
position.  He  added  that  the  only  thing  to  do, 
to  induce  him  to  sign,  was  to  grant  him  the  in- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    251 

signias  of  his  dignity,  and  give  him  at  the  same 
time  a  distinction  which  might  make  amends  for 
the  treatment  received.  The  synopsis  of  the 
doctrine  was  brought  to  the  other  prelates  only 
by  ecclesiastics  of  the  second  class;  La  Fare  sug- 
gested that  it  be  sent  by  Languet,  Bishop  of  Sois- 
sons,  first  suffragan  of  Reims;  we  shall  see  why. 

The  Regent  consented  to  this  but  to  flatter  the 
archbishop's  vanity,  and  at  the  same  time  assure 
himself  of  the  signature,  he  gave  Languet  two 
sealed  letters.  In  one  he  ordered  the  archbishop 
to  sign  at  once,  or  else  he  must  renounce  his  hat 
forever  and  spend  his  life  in  exile.  In  the  second 
he  exhorted  him  to  sign  in  the  most  flattering 
terms,  leaving  him  full  liberty,  however,  and  as- 
suring him  that,  whether  he  refused  or  accepted, 
he  could  come  and  receive  his  calotte  at  the  King's 
hands.  The  archbishop,  on  reading  these  two 
letters,  was  soon  decided.  He  signed  everything 
asked  for,  showed  the  second  letter  to  everyone, 
suppressed  the  first,  and  came  to  enjoy  the  object 
of  his  desires,  by  receiving  the  calotte. 

The  design  of  La  Fare,  in  proposing  Languet, 
had  not  only  been  to  honour  Cardinal  de  Mailly, 


252     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

but  to  increase  his  triumph  by  humiliating  the 
prelate  who  had  most  opposed  the  promotion. 
If  the  purple  were  the  reward  of  fanaticism,  Lan- 
guet  was  not  wholly  wrong  in  being  jealous. 
Mailly  had  had  one  charge  burnt  by  the  hand  of 
the  executioner,  but  Languet  had  had  two.  His 
zeal  was  not  cooled  by  this;  he  continued  to  serve 
Rome  while  disturbing  the  Church,  and  finally 
died,  without  a  calotte,  more  than  thirty  years 
after. 

The  promotion  of  ten  cardinals  did  not  make  as 
much  noise  in  Europe  as  the  downfall  of  Alberoni. 

We  have  seen  the  care  he  took  in  keeping  away 
from  Madrid  all  the  Parmesans  so  as  to  have  no 
witnesses  of  his  low  origin,  or  for  fear  that  they 
might  find  it  easier  than  others  to  reach  the  Queen. 
He  was  however  unable  to  prevent  that  princess 
from  sending  for  her  nurse,  Laura  Piscatori, 
whom  she  made  her  assafeta,  or  premiere  femme 
de  chambre,  a  position  more  distinguished  in  Spain 
than  in  France,  where  still  it  gives  the  credit  which 
always  follows  domestic  intimacy. 

Laura,  a  peasant  woman  as  shrewd  as  she  was 
boorish,  knowing  all  that  Alberoni  had  done  to 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    253 

prevent  her  from  being  sent  for,  was  not  the  dupe 
of  the  outward  consideration  of  the  minister;  she 
noticed  the  hatred  and  returned  it.  The  cardinal 
in  an  underhanded  manner  insinuated  to  the 
Queen  the  distance  she  should  hold  in  the  confi- 
dence between  herself  and  her  nurse.  Laura, 
without  entering  in  these  fine  distinctions,  brutally 
attacked  the  minister,  did  not  sharpen  her  shafts, 
but  delivered  crushing  blows. 

The  Regent  wished  to  rid  himself  of  Alberoni, 
his  personal  enemy.  Abbe  Dubois,  informed  by 
his  spies  of  the  influence  of  Laura  over  the  Queen 
of  Spain,  and  knowing,  by  his  over  his  master, 
how  powerful  that  force  is,  undertook  to  make 
use  of  it  to  overthrow  the  minister.  He  had 
offered  to  Laura  all  the  money  she  might  wish,  for 
she  could  not  lay  claim  to  anything  else  from  his 
bounty.  Therefore  interest  united  with  hatred 
determined  the  nurse.  It  was  difficult  to  per- 
suade her  that  the  good  of  the  State  corresponded 
with  hers.  Whatever  advantageous  idea  Albe- 
roni could  have  given  of  his  projects  to  Their 
Catholic  Majesties,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
hide  his  lack  of  success:  the  fleet  destroyed,  towns 


354    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

taken,  troops  beaten  or  compelled  to  intrench 
themselves,  a  King  without  allies,  obliged  to 
sustain  a  war  both  ruinous  and  unfortunate  against 
the  foremost  powers,  the  projects  of  the  minister, 
great,  if  you  will,  but  without  satisfactory  means, 
and  therefore  senseless. 

Laura  profited  by  all  her  advantages,  pointed 
out  to  the  Queen,  and  through  her  to  the  King, 
the  ambition  and  folly  of  Alberoni. 

It  is  a  fortunate  thing  when  princes  judge,  as 
die  people,  ministers  and  generals  by  their  suc- 
cess :  it  is  the  best  way.  The  Queen,  dismayed  at 
these  disasters,  humiliated  at  her  choice,  became 
disgusted  with  her  minister,  and  as  all  the  mani- 
festoes of  the  countries  in  league  against  Spain 
attacked  only  Alberoni  directly,  she  thought,  in 
sacrificing  him,  to  place  the  honour  of  the  mon- 
archy in  safety;  and  Alberoni  received,  through 
a  note  from  Philip  V,  orders  to  leave  Madrid 
within  twenty-four  hours,  and  in  two  week* 
Spanish  dominion,  with  prohibition  to  see  anyone, 
to  write  to  the  King  or  Queen  or  to  anyone  else. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  an 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    255 

officer  of  the  gardes  du  corps,  who  was  to  see  him 
as  far  as  the  frontier. 

At  Barcelona,  the  King's  lieutenant  gave  him 
an  escort  of  fifty  horsemen  who  were  of  much  use 
to  him;  for  two  hundred  bandits  having  attacked 
him  at  Trenta-Passos,  the  cardinal,  at  the  head  of 
the  escort  and  of  his  servants,  faced  the  brigands 
and  succeeded  in  driving  them  away. 

While  Alberoni  was  going  away,  it  was  dis- 
covered at  Madrid  that  he  was  taking  away  some 
important  papers,  and  among  these  the  will  of 
Charles  II  which  instituted  Philip  V  heir  to  the 
monarchy.  He  apparently  intended  to  gain  the 
Emperor's  protection  by  turning  over  to  him  so 
precious  a  document.  Men  were  dispatched  after 
him  and  violence  had  to  be  resorted  to  to  search 
him;  but  the  detachment  that  had  defended  him 
against  the  bandits,  then  obeying  the  King's 
orders,  the  officer  had  the  cardinal's  baggage  and 
chests  opened.  All,  including  his  person  was 
carefully  examined.  The  will  and  almost  all  his 
papers  were  seized;  and  the  officer,  until  that 
moment  respectful  for  the  cardinal,  treated  him 


256    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

as  a  military  executioner,  and  left  him,  sending 
him,  in  formal  terms,  a  tons  les  diables.  Never 
had  victory  caused  greater  rejoicing  in  Spain  than 
did  the  minister's  disgrace:  each  one  proclaimed 
all  he  knew  or  knew  not.  Acts  of  ministerial 
despotism  are  always  so  common  that  one  is  not 
reduced  to  cite  unjustly.  The  King  was  the  only 
one  who  knew  nothing  of  them;  the  Queen  must 
have  known  of  them,  but,  for  her  honour's  sake, 
she  pretended  to  hear  of  them  for  the  first  time. 
The  foreign  powers  on  this  occasion  congratulated 
Their  Catholic  Majesties,  and  from  that  moment 
peace  was  considered  assured. 

The  manner  in  which  Alberoni  had  been 
searched  and  the  insults  he  still  feared  from  Spain 
caused  him  to  hasten  his  march  towards  France 
and  enter  there  even  before  he  had  received  the 
passport  for  which  he  had  sent. 

Chevalier  de  Marcieu,  who  had  known  him 
well  before  his  success,  received  orders  to  go  and 
meet  him  on  the  frontier,  under  the  pretext  of 
politeness  and  the  safety  of  his  person,  without 
permitting,  however,  that  the  usual  honours  be 
rendered  him.  He  was  also  to  try  to  get  him  to 


speak  about  the  affairs  of  Spain,  the  King,  the 
Queen,  the  existing  ministry,  and  upon  all  subjects 
of  importance  to  us,  and  to  leave  him  only  on  his 
embarking  at  Antibes,  from  whence  he  expected  to 
go  into  Italy. 

The  cardinal,  on  seeing  the  Chevalier  de 
Marcieu  come  to  meet  him,  at  once  understood 
what  his  mission  was  and  frankly  told  him  so. 
Marcieu  denied  it,  and  although  the  cardinal  knew 
what  to  think  of  his  presence,  he  did  not  restrain 
himself  in  speaking  of  the  King  and  Queen,  whom 
he  termed  ingrates.  "  If  the  Queen,"  he  said, 
"  who  has  the  devil  in  her,  finds  a  good  general, 
she  will  disturb  Europe:  she  easily  controls  her 
husband  who,  as  soon  as  he  has  said  in  low  tones : 
*  I  want  to  be  the  master,'  ends  by  obeying,  and 
who  only  requires  a  devotion-chair  and  a  woman.'* 
He  added  that  he,  Alberoni,  far  from  having 
caused  the  war,  had  always  been  opposed  to  it; 
that  he  had  had  no  share  in  the  conspiracy  of 
the  prince;  that  the  Due  du  Maine  had  not  ap- 
peared in  it;  but  that  the  duchesse  was  a  wicked 
she-devil,  and  that  the  majority  of  her  partisans 
whom  he  would  never  name,  was  not  worth  an 


258    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

ecu  of  good  silver;  that  the  landing  in  Brittany 
was  a  folly  which  he  had  always  condemned,  that 
lie  had  even  thwarted  the  embarkation  in  Spain; 
that  he  would  everywhere  be  for  M.  le  Regent  as 
that  prince  would  wish  him  to  be;  and  that  all 
papers  against  the  Regency  had  always  been  writ- 
ten in  France.  He  claimed  that  the  ministry  he 
left  in  Spain  would  from  then  on  be  composed 
only  of  ignoramuses,  compelled  to  have  considera- 
tion for  all  those  who  were  near  a  weak  King. 
He  did  not  doubt  but  that  an  attempt  had  been 
made  to  have  him  assassinated  by  the  brigands, 
by  obliging  him  to  pass  through  Catalonia,  whose 
rebellion  he  had  suppressed  and  punished,  instead 
of  allowing  him  to  leave  by  way  of  Pampeluna, 
as  he  had  asked  to  be  permitted  to  do. 

Chevalier  de  Marcieu,  in  pursuance  of  his 
orders,  had  the  Custom  department  of  Narbonne 
secretly  requested  to  scrupulously  examine  the 
cardinal's  baggage,  on  the  pretext  of  seeing  if  he 
had  nothing  dutiable.  Only  twelve  hundred 
pistoles  were  found  and  no  jewels  of  value.  la 
view  of  his  style  of  living  later  in  Rome,  he  must 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    259 

have  had  considerable  sums  invested  in  foreign 
countries. 

He  wanted  to  make  people  believe  that  he  was 
poor,  but  that  he  cared  little,  as  the  only  relatives 
he  had  were  a  nephew  whom  he  had  made  a  priest, 
and  a  niece  whom  he  was  making  a  nun.  These 
details  and  a  few  others  are  to  be  found  in  the 
letters  of  Chevalier  de  Marcieu,  from  January  6, 
1720,  and  the  following  days  until  the  ist  of 
February,  when  he  saw  the  cardinal  embark  at 
Antibes,  on  a  Genoese  galley.  Before  leaving  he 
gave  to  the  chevalier  a  paper  and  a  letter  in  which 
he  offered  to  wage  a  most  dangerous  war  on  Spain. 
The  Regent  did  not  honour  him  with  a  reply. 

Alberoni  went  from  Antibes  to  Leghorn,  and 
betook  himself  to  Parma,  where  he  received  all 
the  honours  due  to  his  dignity,  by  order  of  the 
Duke  of  Parma,  whose  subject  he  was  born.  This 
vain  etiquette  did  not  console  him  for  having  no 
other  place  of  refuge  than  among  his  countrymen, 
who  had  despised  him  in  his  extraction,  been 
jealous  of  him  in  his  rise,  hated  him  in  the  misuse 
of  his  power,  which  the  Italians  express  by 


260    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

prepotenza,  and  who  exulted  in  his  overthrow. 
He  left  Parma  and  was  for  more  than  one  year  a 
wanderer,  a  fugitive,  as  if  exiled  from  the  whole 
earth. 

Respect  of  the  Roman  purple  did  not  seem 
to  him  a  sufficient  protection  in  Rome  against 
the  resentment  of  the  pope,  whom  he  had  treated 
insolently.  It  was  only  in  1721  that  he  went  to 
Rome,  at  the  conclave  which  followed  the  death 
of  Clement  XI. 

Alberoni's  greatest  grief  was  not  to  have  ob- 
tained the  bulls  of  the  Archbishopric  of  Sevilla, 
after  having  resigned  the  bishopric  of  Malaga; 
and,  as  if  he  had  the  right  to  call  Heaven  to 
witness,  he  at  times  broke  out  in  great  anger,  ex- 
claiming that  the  pope,  the  Emperor  and  Their 
Catholic  Majesties  would  answer  for  it  to  God. 
It  is  certain  that,  had  he  been  in  possession  of  an 
important  see,  he  could,  assisted  by  Spanish  super- 
stition, have  contended  against  the  royal  power. 

The  Regent,  assured  of  peace  without,  did  not 
enjoy  the  same  quiet  within  the  State;  the  illusion 
of  the  system  was  beginning  to  disappear.  Peo- 
ple came  gradually  to  understand  that  all  paper 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    261 

riches  were  but  ideal,  if  they  were  not  based  on 
real  funds,  and  that  operations  which  may  be 
proper  under  certain  conditions  to  a  free  people, 
are  pernicious  in  a  monarchy  where  the  misuse  of 
power  depends  on  a  mistress  or  on  a  favourite. 
The  profusions  of  the  Regent  delighted  the  Court 
or  ruined  the  nation.  The  great  people  paid 
their  debts  with  paper,  which  was  only  a  legal 
bankruptcy.  That  which  was  the  fruit  of  the  toil 
and  industry  of  a  whole  people  became  the  prey 
of  the  idle  and  greedy  courtiers. 

The  paper  soon  lost  all  vogue,  by  its  super- 
abundance only:  an  attempt  was  made  to  convert 
it  into  specie. 

For  want  of  coin  currency,  people  bought,  at 
any  price,  specimens  of  the  goldsmith's  art, 
pieces  of  furniture  and  generally  all  that  could 
retain  a  real  value  after  the  decline  of  the  papers. 
All  being  equally  eager,  everything  became  un- 
believably expensive,  and  the  rarity  of  specie 
caused  it  to  be  more  and  more  closely  kept.  The 
government,  seeing  the  frenzy  passed,  and  that 
there  was  no  longer  a  possibility  of  beguiling, 
made  use  of  violence.  Gold,  silver,  precious 


262    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

stones  were  forbidden.  It  was  not  allowed  to 
have  more  than  five  hundred  livres  in  specie. 
Searches  were  instituted  even  in  religious  estab- 
lishments. Confiscations  took  place:  the  inform- 
ers were  encouraged  and  rewarded.  Valets  be- 
trayed their  masters,  the  citizen  became  the  spy 
of  the  citizen:  which  caused  Lord  Stairs  to  say 
that  no  one  could  doubt  the  Catholicity  of  Law 
since  he  had  established  the  inquisition,  after  having 
already  proved  transubstantiation,  by  the  chang- 
ing of  specie  into  paper. 

Even  though  the  system  might  not  have  been 
pernicious  in  itself,  the  abuse  would  have  de- 
stroyed its  principles.  There  was  no  longer  any 
plan  nor  determined  object,  for  the  Ills  of  the 
moment  a  remedy  was  being  blindly  sought,  and 
this  remedy  became  a  greater  evil.  The  decrees, 
the  statutes  multiplied,  the  same  day  saw  some 
appear  which  annulled  others. 

Never  more  capricious  government,  never  more 
frenzied  despotism  were  seen  under  a  Regent  less 
firm.  The  most  inconceivable  of  the  prodigies 
for  those  who  were  witnesses  of  those  times,  and 
who  to-day  look  on  it  as  a  dream,  is  that  a  sud- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    263 

den  revolution  was  not  the  outcome;  that  the 
Regent  and  Law  did  not  end  tragically.  They 
were  held  in  horror,  but  the  people  contented 
themselves  with  murmuring;  a  gloomy  and  timid 
despair,  a  stupid  consternation  had  seized  all: 
minds  were  too  debased  to  be  capable  of  courageous 
crimes. 

One  could  hear  of  nothing  but  worthy  families 
ruined,  secret  poverty,  shameful  fortunes,  new- 
rich  astonished  at  and  unworthy  of  being,  con- 
temptible nobles,  senseless  pleasures,  scandalous 
luxury. 

The  facility,  the  necessity  even  of  carrying  on 
ene's  person  considerable  sums  in  paper,  to  nego- 
tiate them,  rendered  robberies  very  common;  as- 
sassinations were  not  rare.  There  was  one  whose 
just  and  necessary  punishment  caused  a  sensation 
throughout  a  large  portion  of  Europe. 

Antoine- Joseph,  Comte  de  Horn,  aged  twenty- 
two,  a  captain  on  half-pay  in  the  cornette  blanche  • 
Laurent  de  Mille,  from  Piedmont,  a  captain  on 
half-pay  in  the  regiment  of  Brehenne-Allemand, 
and  an  alleged  Chevalier  d'Estampes  plotted  to 
assassinate  a  rich  speculator  and  to  steal  his 


264    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

wallet.  They  went  to  rue  Quincampoix  and,  on 
the  pretext  of  negotiating  one  hundred  thousand 
ecus  of  stock,  took  the  broker  to  a  tavern  in  the 
rue  de  Venise,  on  March  22,  Passion  Friday,  and 
stabbed  him.  The  unfortunate  broker,  in  his 
struggles,  made  enough  noise  so  as  to  be  heard  by; 
a  tavern  boy  who  was  passing  the  door,  the  key  of 
which  was  on  the  outside.  The  boy  opened  the 
door,  and,  seeing  a  man  covered  with  blood, 
closed  it  again,  locked  it,  and  shouted, 
"Murder!" 

The  assassins,  seeing  themselves  locked  in, 
jumped  from  the  windows.  D'Estampes,  who 
was  on  watch  on  the  stairs,  had  run  away  at  the 
first  shout  and  hastened  to  a  lodging  house  in  rue 
de  Tournon,  where  the  three  dwelt,  took  the 
things  he  could  most  easily  carry  and  fled.  Mille 
went  through  the  whole  crowd  in  the  rue  Quin- 
campoix, but,  followed  by  the  people,  he  was 
stopped  at  the  Halles.  The  Comte  de  Horn  was 
arrested  as  he  fell  from  the  window.  Believing 
his  two  accomplices  safe,  he  had  enough  presence 
of  mind  to  say  that  he  had  almost  been  killed  in 
trying  to  defend  the  man  who  had  just  been 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    265 

murdered.  His  plan  was  not  very  well  arranged 
and  became  useless  on  the  arrival  of  de  Mille,  who 
was  brought  back  to  the  tavern  and  who  con- 
fessed all.  Comte  de  Horn  in  vain  tried  to 
ignore  him,  the  commissary  of  police  ordered  him 
taken  to  prison.  The  crime  being  proven,  the 
trial  was  not  long,  and  on  Holy  Tuesday,  March 
26,  both  were  broken  on  the  wheel  on  the  Place 
de  Greve. 

Comte  de  Horn  was  apparently  the  instigator 
of  the  plot,  for  before  the  execution  and  while  he 
still  breathed  on  the  wheel,  he  asked  the  pardon 
of  his  accomplice,  who  was  executed  last  and  who 
died  under  the  blows. 

I  have  heard  from  the  prison  chaplain  a  cir- 
cumstance which  well  proves  the  resignation  and 
calmness  of  Comte  de  Horn.  Having  been 
turned  over  to  the  chaplain,  while  awaiting  the 
doctor  of  the  Sorbonne,  the  confessor,  he  said  to 
him:  "  I  deserve  the  wheel;  I  had  hope  that  out 
of  consideration  for  my  family,  the  penalty  would 
be  changed  to  decapitation;  I  am  resigned  to  all 
so  as  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  my  crime  from 
God."  He  added  immediately :  "  Do  people 


a66     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

suffer  much  on  the  wheel?  "  The  chaplain,  taken 
aback  at  this  question,  merely  replied  that  he 
thought  not,  and  spoke  to  him  in  as  consoling  a 
manner  as  he  could. 

The  Regent  was  besieged  on  all  sides  for  a 
pardon,  or  at  least  a  commutation  of  sentence. 
The  crime  was  so  atrocious  that  people  did  not  in- 
sist about  the  first;  but  entreaties  on  the  second 
redoubled.  It  was  maintained  that  the  punish- 
ment on  the  wheel  was  so  degrading  that  no 
daughter  of  the  house  of  Horn  could  enter  any 
chapter  before  the  third  generation. 

The  Regent  rejected  all  prayers  for  pardon. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  influence  him  on  the  plea 
that  the  condemned  had  the  honour  of  being  re- 
lated to  him  through  Madame :  "  Well !  "  said 
he,  "  I  shall  share  the  disgrace;  that  should  con- 
sole the  other  relatives."  He  quoted  on  that  oc- 
casion the  line  of  Corneille. 

"  Le  crime   fait  la  honte  et  non  pas  1'  echafaud." 

A  true  and  moral  maxim,  and  untrue  in  our 
customs.  In  a  State  where  consideration  depends 
on  birth,  on  rank,  on  credit  and  on  fortune,  all 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    267 

of  these  means  of  impunity,  a  family  who  cannot 
screen  from  justice  a  guilty  relative,  is  convicted 
of  having  no  standing,  and  consequently  is 
despised;  the  prejudice  must  then  exist.  But  it 
does  not  occur,  or  at  least  it  is  more  feeble  under 
an  absolute  despotism  or  among  free  people, 
wherever  it  may  be  said:  You  are  a  slave  as  I 
am  or  I  am  free  as  you  are.  Under  a  despotic 
government,  the  condemned  man  is  supposedly 
only  guilty  of  having  offended.  In  a  free  country 
the  guilty  is  sacrificed  only  to  justice;  and  when 
it  will  respect  no  one  the  majority  of  families 
will  have  their  hanged-man,  and  consequently  will 
require  indulgence,  and  reciprocal  compassion. 
Then  the  wrongs  being  personal,  prejudice  will 
disappear:  there  is  no  other  way  of  extinguish- 
ing it. 

The  Regent  was  almost  persuaded  to  commute 
the  sentence :  but  Law  and  Abbe  Dubois  made  him 
see  the  necessity  of  maintaining  public  safety  in 
a  time  where  everyone  carried  his  whole  fortune. 
They  proved  to  him  that  the  people  would  in  no 
way  be  satisfied  and  would  feel  humiliated  at  the 
distinction  of  punishment  for  a  crime  so  awful 


268    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

and  so  public.  I  have  often  heard  this  execution 
discussed  and  have  never  heard  it  condemned  but 
by  the  nobles  —  interested  parties  —  and  I  may 
say  that  I  have  never  concealed  my  sentiments  in 
their  presence. 

When  the  relatives  or  allies  had  lost  all  hope 
of  moving  the  Regent,  Prince  de  Robec-Mont- 
morency  and  the  Marshal  d'Isenghen  of  to-day, 
to  whom  the  condemned  was  more  nearly  related 
than  to  others,  found  a  means  of  entering  his 
prison,  brought  him  poison,  and  exhorted  him  to 
escape,  by  taking  it,  the  disgrace  of  his  punish- 
ment: but  he  refused.  "Go,  wretch,"  said  they 
with  indignation  on  leaving  him;  "you  are  only 
worthy  of  dying  at  the  executioner's  handl  " 

I  have  the  principal  circumstances  of  the  case 
from  the  court  clerk  who  imparted  the  proceedings 
to  me. 

Comte  de  Horn  was,  before  his  last  crime, 
known  as  a  swindler,  and  in  every  respect  a  worth- 
less fellow.  His  mother,  daughter  of  Prince  de 
Ligne,  Due  d'Aremberg,  Spanish  Grandee  and 
chevalier  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  and  his  elder 
brother,  Maximilien  Emmanuel,  Prince  de  Horn, 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    269 

informed  of  the  evil  ways  of  the  unfortunate,  had 
sent  a  nobleman  to  pay  his  debts,  bring  him  back 
if  willing  or  obtain  from  the  Regent  an  order 
driving  him  out  of  Paris;  unhappily  he  only 
reached  Paris  on  the  morrow  of  the  crime. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  Regent,  having 
adjudged  the  confiscation  of  the  goods  of  Comte 
de  Horn  to  Prince  de  Horn,  his  brother,  the  latter 
wrote  the  following  letter: 

"I  do  not  complain,  Monseigneur,  of  my 
brother's  death,  but  I  complain  that  Your  Royal 
Highness  should  have  violated  in  his  person  the 
rights  of  the  kingdom,  of  the  nobility  and  of  the 
nation."  (The  reproach  is  ill  founded,  pre- 
meditated murder  is  punished  by  the  wheel,  with- 
out distinction  of  birth.)  "  I  thank  you  for  the 
confiscation  of  his  goods;  I  should  consider  myself 
as  infamous  as  he  should  I  ever  accept  any  favours 
from  you.  I  trust  that  God  and  the  King  will 
one  day  render  you  justice  as  exactly  as  you  have 
rendered  it  to  my  unhappy  brother." 

At  the  time  when  the  Regent  was  holding  up 
Comte  de  Horn  to  public  reprobation,  he  was 
having  sacrifice  made  in  Brittany  to  the  tranquillity 


2/o     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

of  his  regency.  On  the  same  day,  March  26th, 
the  royal  chamber  established  at  Nantes  had  four 
Breton  nobles  beheaded  for  the  crime  of  lese- 
majeste  and  felony.  Sixteen  of  them  were  hanged 
in  effigy  and  a  large  number  of  other  cases  were 
settled  by  an  amnesty.  I  have  already  spoken 
of  this  affair.  All  these  unfortunate  gentlemen, 
the  majority  of  whom  did  not  know  what  it  was 
all  about,  were  the  victims  of  the  allurements  of 
Cellamare  and  of  the  Duchesse  du  Maine's  folly. 
I  shall  add  but  few  circumstances. 

The  entire  city  was  filled  with  troops:  the 
bourgeois  were  prohibited  from  leaving  their 
houses:  the  cannon  of  the  chateau  were  turned 
towards  the  city.  Montlouis,  on  mounting  the 
scaffold,  seeing  the  tears  of  those  about,  said 
to  them :  "  My  compatriots,  we  die  for  you ;  pray 
God  for  us."  D'Evry,  who  reported  the  case 
and  who  has  just  died,  has  said  several  times  that 
he  expected  a  pardon,  after  having  seen  the 
Duchesse  du  Maine  freed:  which  proves  suffi- 
ciently that  she  was  the  real  culprit. 

The  Regent,  not  knowing  how  to  provide  for 
the  payment  of  the  rentes  and  pensions  of  which 


THE  DUCHESSE  DU  MAINE 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    271 

his  liberalities  daily  increased  the  number,  had 
ordered,  by  a  decree  of  the  council  dated  February 
6th,  the  reimbursement  in  paper  or  the  reduction 
to  two  per  cent  of  all  those  rentes.  By  the  edict 
of  the  month  of  March  following,  all  the  settle- 
ments of  rentes  were  fixed  at  the  same  percentage 
as  if  the  value  of  money  did  not  depend  solely  on 
its  rarity  or  on  its  abundance.  The  prince  can 
fix  the  legal  rate  of  interest;  but  he  cannot  con- 
strain the  lenders.  The  Parliament  refused  to 
register  the  decree  as  well  as  the  edict,  and  made 
remonstrances  which  only  established  the  right  of 
making  them,  and  their  uselessness.  The  premier 
president,  not  yet  recovered  from  his  interview 
with  the  Regent,  pretended  to  be  ill,  so  as  not  to 
find  himself  in  opposition  either  with  the  prince 
or  with  the  Parliament.  We  shall  see  him  re- 
appear when  he  finds  the  opportunity  favourable 
to  him.  This  was  not  long  in  presenting  itself. 

All  the  members  of  the  Court,  encumbered  with 
debts,  had  freed  themselves  from  them  with  paper 
which  had  only  cost  them  baseness.  The  honest 
bourgeoisie  was  ruined  and  unheard-of  violences 
were  practised  on  the  common  people  in  connec- 


272     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

tion  with  Mississippi  (to-day  Louisiana).  Law, 
seeing  clearly  that  a  foundation  must  be  given  to 
his  stocks,  at  least  a  fictitious  one,  made  use  of 
the  alleged  riches  which  would  be  secured  from 
Mississippi.  It  was,  he  said,  a  land  of  promise, 
abounding  in  provisions  of  all  kinds,  in  gold  and 
silver  mines.  All  that  was  required  was  to  send 
colonists  there,  who,  in  enriching  themselves, 
would  also  be  the  builders  of  the  fortune  of 
France. 

This  bait  not  being  successful,  all  the  rascals 
and  prostitutes  were  taken  by  force  from  the 
prisons  and  reformatories  and  made  to  embark. 
Then  those  without  occupation  were  seized;  and 
as  those  who  are  employed  to  purge  a  city  of 
scoundrels  are  hardly  any  better  themselves,  on 
the  pretence  of  vagrancy,  many  honest  artisans 
and  sons  of  bourgeois  were  taken.  The  police 
detained  some  illegally,  and  made  them  buy  their 
liberty.  Excesses  were  carried  so  far  that  the 
patience  of  the  people  tired  of  them.  The  police 
were  repulsed,  some  were  killed,  and  the  minister, 
intimidated  in  turn,  had  these  odious  persecutions 
discontinued.  It  was  learned  later  that  almost 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    273 

all  the  unfortunates,  taken  by  force,  turned  over 
for  sole  subsistence  to  the  charity  of  the  provinces 
which  they  were  made  to  cross,  had  perished  on 
the  way,  during  the  crossing  or  in  the  colony. 

The  Regent  and  Law  no  longer  knowing  what 
recourse  to  take  to  face  the  royal  bills,  the  council 
on  the  zist  of  May  rendered  the  famous  decree 
which  reduced  them  all  to  one-half  their  value. 
The  clamour  was  general  when  it  was  seen,  by  this 
reduction,  how  little  faith  one  could  place  on  the 
other  half. 

The  premier  president,  seeing  that  the  Regent 
had  lost  ground,  and  that  all  the  citizens  were  in 
a  state  of  fury,  reappeared  on  the  scene  and  as- 
sembled the  Parliament;  but  the  Regent  on  the 
2 yth  sent  La  Vrilliere,  secretary  of  state,  to 
suspend  all  deliberation,  and  announce  a  new  de- 
cree of  the  council  which  was  issued  the  next  day 
to  again  give  the  bills  their  full  value. 

The  blow  had  been  struck.  Confidence  is  in- 
spired by  degrees,  but  a  moment  destroys  it  and 
it  is  then  well  nigh  impossible  to  restore  it;  there- 
fore did  it  not  return.  The  Regent  was  himself 
so  frightened  at  the  clamour,  and  rumours,  that 


274     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

he  attempted  to  cast  all  the  public  hatred  on 
Law  by  taking  from  him  the  administration  of 
the  finances;  and  when  he  was  brought  to  the 
Palais-Royal,  he  publicly  refused  to  see  him,  but 
that  very  evening,  he  had  him  come  in  through 
a  secret  door,  to  offer  him  some  consolation  and 
excuses.  As  the  conduct  of  this  prince  was  as 
uneven  as  it  was  inconsistent,  two  days  after  he 
took  Law  with  him  to  the  Opera;  but,  to  protect 
him  from  the  fury  of  the  people,  he  gave  him  a 
guard  of  Swiss  from  his  own  house.  The  pre- 
caution was  not  useless :  Law  had  been  pelted  with 
stones  while  in  his  coach,  and  had  he  been  at  the 
least  distance  from  his  residence,  he  would  have 
been  stoned  to  death.  His  wife  and  daughter 
almost  had  the  same  fate  on  the  public  drive, 
where  they  had  the  imprudence  of  showing  them- 
selves, without  considering  that  the  multitude  is 
not  made  up  of  courtiers.  Besides,  the  fact  of 
being  a  foreigner  in  France  and  in  any  other 
country,  does  much  to  aggravate  the  wrongs  of 
a  minister.  Had  Richelieu  been  an  Italian,  he 
might  perhaps  have  among  us,  in  spite  of  the 
eulogies  of  the  Academy,  as  bad  a  reputation 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    275 

as  Cardinal  Mazarin,  although  of  another  sort. 

The  Regent  was  just  enough  to  himself  to  feel 
that  he  was  more  to  blame  than  Law.  The  lat- 
ter took  refuge  at  the  Palais-Royal,  because  the 
attack  of  the  populace  was  several  times  renewed 
against  him.  He  imputed  the  failure  of  his  sys- 
tem to  the  keeper  of  the  seals  who,  forced  to  re- 
linquish the  administration  of  the  finances,  had 
hindered  all  its  operations  and  counselled  the  de- 
cree of  May  2 1 st. 

Dubois,  for  whom  the  system  had  procured  so 
much  money,  and  who  still  hoped  for  more, 
seconded  Law  in  his  resentment;  and  both  in- 
duced the  Regent  to  re-appoint  Chancellor 
d'Aguesseau.  Law,  and  Chevalier  de  Conflans, 
first  gentleman  of  the  Regent's  chamber,  went  to- 
gether to  get  him  at  Frene,  while  Dubois  went,  on, 
behalf  of  the  Regent,  to  ask  d'Argenson  for  the 
seals  which  were  returned  to  the  chancellor,  whose 
reputation  was  so  damaged  by  having  been 
brought  back  by  Law  that  it  recovered  its  original 
splendour  with  difficulty. 

The  honours  of  keeper  of  the  seals  were  con- 
tinued to  d'Argenson.  These  distinctions  and  the 


276     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

pecuniary  fortune  he  had  acquired  (for  he  was 
born  very  poor)  did  not  save  him  the  sickness  of 
disgraced  ministers,  a  sort  of  spleen  which  takes 
possession  of  them  and  of  which  almost  all  perish. 

From  the  moment  that  the  controllership  was 
taken  from  Law,  who  only  retained  the  Bank  and 
the  Compagnie  des  Indes,  Pelletier  des  Forts  was 
appointed  commissary  general  of  finances  and  had 
as  assistants,  Ormesson  and  Caumont. 

The  Regent,  to  gain  the  public  favour  or  re- 
duce its  hatred,  at  first  appeared  to  connect  the 
Parliament  with  his  operations.  By  decree  of 
the  council  dated  June  ist,  it  was  permitted  to 
have  any  amount  of  money  in  one's  house  that 
one  might  wish,  but  few  were  in  a  position  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  permission.  Five  mem- 
bers of  Parliament  were  allowed  to  confer  with 
the  commissioners  of  finances.  So  as  to  with- 
draw the  bank  notes,  there  were  issued  twenty- 
five  millions  of  rentes  on  the  city,  whose  stock  was 
at  two  and  a  half  per  cent,  and  the  settled  bills 
were  publicly  burned  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville.  But 
this  did  not  give  to  individuals  the  money  neces- 
sary for  their  pressing  and  daily  needs.  The 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    277 

most  common  provisions  had  gone  up  to  excessive 
prices  and  the  notes  being  refused  by  all  dealers, 
it  was  necessary  for  the  Bank  to  distribute  some 
little  money  to  the  holders  of  notes;  the  crowd 
at  the  Bank  was  so  great  that  several  persons  were 
smothered.  Three  dead  bodies  were  carried  to 
the  Palais-Royal.  This  sight  made  such  an  im- 
pression that  it  almost  caused  an  uprising  in 
Paris. 

Le  Blanc,  secretary  of  state,  hastened  to  the 
palace,  summoned  the  watch  and  the  Tuileries 
guards;  but  while  awaiting  their  arrival  he  came 
to  a  quick  decision  and  perceiving  seven  or  eight 
powerful  men  quite  liable  to  take  part  in  a  popular 
uprising,  and  even  to  cause  one:  "My  friends," 
said  he  to  them  quietly,  "  take  these  bodies,  carry 
them  to  a  church,  and  return  at  once  to  me  to  be 
paid."  He  was  obeyed  on  the  spot  and  the  troops 
which  arrived  dispersed  by  their  sole  presence  the 
multitude  which  no  longer  had  before  its  eyes 
corpses  capable  of  causing  so  great  an  impression. 
A  part  of  the  populace  had  already  left  the  Palais- 
Royal  to  follow  the  bodies  which  were  being  car- 
ried away,  either  through  aimless  curiosity,  or  to 


2?S    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

participate  in  the  promised  reward.  The  same 
day  an  ordinance  was  issued  prohibiting  the  people 
from  assembling  under  penalty  of  the  law. 

The  government  was  so  depraved  that  no 
honest  man  had  any  confidence  in  it.  For  some 
days  past  the  notes  collected  from  the  public  were 
burned  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville;  Trudaine,  mayor 
of  Paris,  in  whose  presence  this  was  done,  thought 
he  saw  numbers  which  had  already  gone  through 
his  hands  and  rather  bluntly  manifested  his 
suspicions.  Trudaine  was  an  upright  man,  full 
of  honour  and  justice,  of  severe  habits,  trained 
in  the  spirit  and  in  the  principles  of  the  ancient 
magistracy,  an  enemy  of  innovations,  and  more 
so  of  those  which  seemed  doubtful  to  him.  His 
son,  with  greater  wisdom,  rather  resembles  him; 
it  is  a  good  family. 

The  suspicions  of  the  mayor  of  Paris  may  have 
been  ill  founded;  but  they  were  so  much  like  the 
truth,  his  position  exerted  such  an  influence  on 
public  confidence  that  the  Regent  took  the  office 
away  from  him  and  gave  it  to  Chateauneuf.  It 
was  uselessly  argued  that  it  was  in  opposition  to  all 
rules  to  replace  a  mayor  before  the  expiration  of 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    279 

his  term,  and  against  all  municipal  laws,  to  put 
a  foreigner  in  the  place;  that  this  injustice  done 
to  a  worthy  man  and  one  dear  to  the  people 
spread  distrust,  instead  of  destroying  it.  Rules 
had  but  little  interest  for  the  Regent ;  so  Trudaine 
was  deposed. 

Stock  gambling,  too  confined  in  rue  Quincam- 
poix,  had  been  transferred  to  the  Place  Vendome. 
There  assembled  the  vilest  scoundrels  and  the 
greatest  lords,  all  united  and  become  equal 
through  greed.  But  few  were  mentioned  at 
Court  as  having  preserved  themselves  from  the 
contagion;  among  these  were  Marshal  de  Villeroi 
and  de  Villars,  the  Dues  de  Saint-Simon  and  de  la 
Rochefoucault.  Marshal  de  Villars,  braggart 
even  of  the  qualities  which  he  possessed,  crossing 
the  Place  one  day  in  a  brilliant  coach  loaded  down 
with  pages  and  lackeys,  attempted,  for  his  vanity's 
sake,  to  turn  his  disinterestedness  to  account.  His 
progress  being  delayed  by  the  crowd,  he  put  his 
head  out  of  the  coach  window,  and  declaimed 
against  the  shame  of  stock  gambling,  the  disgrace 
of  the  nation,  adding  that  as  to  himself  he  was 
perfectly  irreproachable  as  to  money.  There  im- 


280    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

mediately  arose  from  those  about  a  general  shout: 
*'  How  about  protection !  How  about  protec- 
tion !  "  which  the  marshal  had  turned  to  great  ac- 
count when  in  command  of  the  army. 

These  cries  which  were  repeated  from  one  end 
of  the  Place  to  the  other,  awed  the  marshal  into 
silence,  caused  him  to  sink  back  into  his  coach, 
and  pass  on  as  best  he  could. 

M.  le  due,  boasting  candidly  one  day  of  the 
quantity  of  actions  (shares  of  stock)  which  he 
possessed,  Turmenies,  guard  of  the  royal  treasury, 
a  man  of  wit,  and  who  had  acquired  a  right  or 
a  habit  of  familiarity  even  with  the  princes,  said 
to  him :  "  Monseigneur,  two  of  your  grandfather's 
actions  (deeds)  are  worth  more  than  all  those." 
M.  le  due  laughed  at  this  for  fear  of  being 
obliged  to  get  angry  at  it.  This  same  Turmenies, 
being  present  on  the  occasion  of  the  return  of  the 
Comte  de  Charolais,  after  three  years  of  travel, 
was  eager  with  many  others  to  show  his  delight. 
This  prince  hardly  looked  at  those  present,  where- 
upon Turmenies  turned  towards  those  about  him 
and  said :  "  Gentlemen,  spend  much  money  to 


have  your  children  travel:  this  is  the  way  they 
return !  " 

On  arriving,  Comte  de  Charolais  entered  the 
regency  council  and  did  not  strengthen  it.  The 
chancellor,  finding  himself  disturbed  by  the  tumult 
of  stock  gambling  in  the  Place  Vendome,  where 
the  chancellery  is,  Prince  de  Garignan,  more 
greedy  for  money  than  delicate  as  to  its  source, 
offered  his  Hotel  de  Soissons.  He  caused  to  be 
built  in  the  garden  a  quantity  of  small  booths 
each  of  which  was  rented  for  five  hundred  livres 
a  month;  the  whole  brought  five  hundred  thou- 
sand livres  a  year.  So  as  to  compel  the  jobbers 
to  make  use  of  them,  he  secured  an  ordinance 
which,  on  the  pretext  of  having  the  stock  gam- 
bling policed  and  of  preventing  the  loss  of  pocket- 
books,  forbade  the  doing  of  any  business  outside 
of  these  booths. 

The  Parliament,  since  its  deputies  conferred 
with  the  commissaries  of  finances,  already  flattered 
itself  with  participating  in  the  administration;  this 
illusion  did  not  last.  An  edict  granting  privilege 
of  all  commerce  to  the  Compagnie  des  Indes  was 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

brought  to  the  Parliament  to  be  registered,  July 
17,  on  the  very  day  some  persons  were  smothered. 
While  this  affair  was  being  warmly  discussed,  the 
premier  president  went  out  a  moment,  reported 
on  returning  what  had  occurred  at  the  Bank,  and 
that  Law's  coach  had  been  broken  to  pieces.  All 
the  magistrates  arose  as  one  man,  with  a  cry  of 
joy  unworthy  of  the  gravity  of  the  sitting :  "  And 
Law,  is  he  torn  to  pieces?"  The  premier  presi- 
dent replied  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  outcome 
of  the  tumult.  The  entire  Assembly  rejected  the 
edict  and  broke  up  the  meeting  to  hasten  to  get 
news. 

The  Regent,  incensed  at  the  little  complacency 
of  the  Parliament,  called  a  secret  council  on 
Thursday  the  i8th,  at  which  council  it  was  re- 
solved to  transfer  the  Parliament  to  Blois.  The 
chancellor  voted  for  this  as  the  others  with  the 
embarrassment  of  a  man  bored  of  exile,  and  who 
fears  to  return  to  it.  He  succeeded,  however, 
after  the  meeting,  in  having  the  Regent  change 
the  place  to  Pontoise,  instead  of  Blois. 

On  Sunday,  the  2ist,  without  anything  having 
transpired,  several  companies  of  guards  as  early 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    283 

as  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  took  possession 
of  the  courtyards  and  of  the  exterior  of  the 
palace;  a  party  of  musketeers  occupied  the  large 
hall,  and  others  the  residence  of  the  premier  presi- 
dent, while  their  comrades  brought  to  all  the 
magistrates  an  order  to  betake  themselves  to 
iPontoise. 

This  transfer  of  Parliament  to  a  distance  of 
seven  leagues  from  Paris,  far  from  restoring 
authority,  rendered  it  ridiculous  and  became  a 
comic  scene  through  the  circumstances  which  ac- 
companied it.  That  very  evening,  the  Regent 
caused  to  be  taken  to  the  Attorney  General,  one 
hundred  thousand  livres  in  money  and  as  much 
in  notes  to  aid  those  who  might  have  need  of  it. 
The  premier  president  had  a  sum  even  larger  to 
maintain  his  table  and  drew,  at  different  times, 
more  than  five  hundred  thousand  livres  from  the 
Regent,  so  that  the  Pontoise  session  became  a  sort 
of  pleasure  vacation. 

The  premier  president  kept  open  table,  and 
those  who,  for  reasons  of  inconvenience  or  other- 
wise, desired  to  remain  in  their  abiding  places, 
sent  to  the  premiere  presidence  to  secure  what 


284    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

they  wished.  In  the  afternoon,  gaming-tables  in 
the  apartments,  barouches  all  ready  in  the  court- 
yard for  those  who  preferred  to  take  a  drive. 
The  premier  president  entered  the  most  elabo- 
rate, and  from  there  named,  among  those  present, 
those  whom  he  wished  to  accompany  him;  conse- 
quently, Messieurs  considered  that  the  premier 
president  was  the  greatest  man  in  his  position. 

In  the  evening,  a  delicate  and  sumptuous  meal 
for  all  the  beautiful  women  and  the  men  of  fash- 
ion who,  in  the  fine  season,  came  daily  from  Paris 
and  returned  there  at  night.  The  fetes,  the  con- 
certs, followed  one  another  continually.  The  road 
to  Pontoise  was  as  popular  as  that  of  Versailles 
is  to-day.  It  might  perhaps  not  have  been  im- 
possible to  bring  the  Regent  there.  He  contrib- 
uted to  the  pleasures  of  these  exiles  who  made  of 
them  jests  more  indecent  than  light.  Hardly  any 
questions  were  considered,  and  only  the  litigants 
suffered. 

The  Chamber  of  Accounts,  the  Court  of  Aids, 
the  Grand  Council  and  the  University  sent  depu- 
ties to  Pontoise  to  compliment  the  Parliament. 
An  entry  was  made  of  this,  and,  on  the  I5th  of 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    285 

August,  the  Chamber  of  Accounts  and  the  Court 
of  Aids  affected  at  the  procession  of  the  vow  of 
Louis  XIII  to  leave  the  Parliament's  place  empty. 

The  Parliament  returned  to  Pontoise  on  the 
1 5th  of  November.  Before  proposing  the  dec- 
laration, several  days  were  taken  up  in  winning 
over  Abbe  Pucelle,  and  when  he  had  been  con- 
ferred with  as  to  the  modifications  which  he 
wished  in  the  registry,  to  protect  the  appellants 
from  all  violence,  no  further  obstacle  was  found. 

In  the  most  numerous  assemblies,  there  are 
hardly  more  than  two  or  three  persons  who  decide 
everything;  which  proves  that  there  is  no  body 
which  does  not  incline  to  monarchy.  The  Par- 
liament registered  the  declaration  on  the  4th  of 
December,  was  recalled  on  the  i6th  and  on  the 
2Oth  resumed  its  functions  at  Paris. 

Cases  had  so  accumulated  owing  to  the  little 
work  done  by  the  Parliament  at  Pontoise,  that  the 
Chamber  established  at  the  Augustins  continued 
to  judge  many  of  them,  even  since  the  Parlia- 
ment's return,  and  distinguished  itself  by  its 
quickness  and  integrity. 

The  recall  of  the  Parliament  decided  the  ex- 


286    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

pulsion  of  Law,  who  prudently  left  two  days  be- 
fore the  return,  in  a  carriage  with  the  arms  of  M. 
le  due,  accompanied  by  a  few  valets  wearing  that 
prince's  livery,  which  acted  as  a  sort  of  protection, 
and,  to  provide  for  emergencies,  supplied  with 
the  Regent's  passports.  This  did  not  hinder  the 
elder  d'Argenson,  commissary  of  Maubeuge,  from 
stopping  him  on  his  passage  through  Valenciennes, 
and  of  sending  word  of  this  by  a  messenger  who 
was  returned  to  him  at  once  with  a  sharp  repri- 
mand for  not  having  paid  deference  to  the  pass- 
ports. 

Law  was  a  Scotchman,  nobleman  or  not,  but 
claimed  to  be,  as  all  foreigners  do.  Tall,  well 
built,  with  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  face,  much  in- 
telligence, of  remarkable  politeness,  with  haughti- 
ness without  insolence.  There  was  in  his  home 
more  order  and  cleanliness  than  luxury.  His 
wife,  or  rather  she  who  was  supposed  to  be, 
for  it  has  since  been  learned  that  they  were  not 
married,  was  an  Englishwoman  of  quality,  of 
a  haughty  character,  and  which  the  meannesses  of 
our  little  and  grand  dames  soon  rendered  imperti- 
nent. After  having  travelled  over  Germany  and 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    28f 

Italy,  he  settled  in  Venice,  where  he  died.  His 
system  has  been  and  must  have  been  pernicious  to 
France.  Law  did  not  know  the  character  of  the 
nation  nor  that  of  the  prince  with  whom  he  had 
dealings.  The  overthrow  of  fortunes  has  not 
been  the  most  unfortunate  effect  of  the  system  and 
of  the  regency:  a  wise  administration  might  have 
re-established  affairs;  but  morals  once  depraved 
are  only  restored  by  the  revolution  of  a  State,  and 
I  have  seen  them  change  visibly.  During  the 
preceding  century,  the  nobility  and  the  military 
were  only  animated  by  honour;  the  magistrate 
sought  consideration;  the  man  of  letters,  the  man 
of  talent  was  ambitious  of  reputation;  the  trades- 
man gloried  in  his  fortune,  because  it  was  a  proof 
of  intelligence,  vigilance,  work  and  thrift;  the 
ecclesiastics  who  were  not  virtuous  were  at  least 
compelled  to  appear  so.  All  the  classes  of  the 
State  have  to-day  but  one  object:  to  be  rich,  with- 
out any  one  fixing  the  limit  of  the  fortune  to  which 
they  aspire. 

An  event  which  interested  all  Europe  wrought 
consternation  in  Paris  and  in  a  few  days  through- 
out all  France  was  the  illness  of  the  King.  On 


288    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  1 3th  of  July,  he  was  attacked  by  a  violent  fe- 
ver, with  the  most  sinister  symptoms;  the  head  was 
beginning  to  become  affected  and  the  frightened 
physicians  were  losing  their  own.  Helvetius,  the 
youngest  of  all,  whom  we  have  since  seen  first  phy- 
sician to  the  Queen,  and  whom  she  did  not  disdain 
to  consider  as  her  friend,  retained  all  his  presence 
of  mind.  He  proposed  the  bleeding  of  the  foot; 
all  those  consulted  rejected  his  proposition. 
Marechal,  first  surgeon,  whose  opinion  was  much 
thought  of,  was  the  most  opposed  to  that  of  Hel- 
vetius, saying  that  if  there  were  but  one  lancet  in 
France,  he  would  break  it  so  as  not  to  perform 
this  bleeding. 

.  The  Regent,  M.  le  due,  M.  de  Villeroi,  the 
Duchesse  de  Ventendour,  the  Duchesse  de  la 
Ferte,  her  sister  and  godmother  to  the  King,  and 
a  few  intimate  officers  were  present  at  the  consul- 
tation, and  much  grieved  not  to  see  unanimity. 
Some  of  the  city  physicians  were  called  in,  such  as 
Dumoulin,  Silva,  Camille,  Falconet.  They  were 
the  first  to  side  with  Helvetius,  who  upheld  his 
opinion  and  justified  it  with  courage,  saying: 
"If  the  King  is  not  bled,  he  is  dead;  this  is  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    289 

sole  and  even  urgent  remedy;  I  know  that  in  such 
a  case  I  can  not  demonstrate  the  certainty  of  suc- 
cess; I  know  to  what  I  expose  myself,  if  it  does 
not  have  the  desired  effect;  but  here  I  must,  ac- 
cording to  my  judgment,  consult  only  my  con- 
science and  the  preservation  of  the  King." 

At  last,  the  bleeding  took  place.  An  hour 
after,  the  fever  diminished,  the  danger  vanished 
and,  on  the  fifth  day,  the  King  was  able  to  rise 
and  receive  the  compliments  of  the  assemblies  and 
of  the  foreign  ministers. 

Helvetius  was  given  all  the  credit  by  the  Court, 
and  the  public,  and  proved  that  on  many  occa- 
sions probity  and  honour  are  not  the  least  qualities 
of  a  physician. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  transports 
of  joy  which  the  King's  convalescence  caused 
throughout  France,  and  which  followed  the  gen- 
eral consternation.  What  we  have  seen  in  I744r 
when  the  King  was  in  such  great  danger  at  Metz, 
only  gave  a  feeble  idea  of  what  had  occurred  on  a 
similar  occasion  in  1721.  A  witness  of  both 
events,  I  have  seen  in  1744  all  that  the  love  of 
Frenchmen  can  inspire;  but  in  1721,  hearts,  while 


290    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

filled  with  the  tenderest  love,  were  besides  ani- 
mated by  a  contrary  and  very  powerful  passion,  by 
a  general  hatred  against  the  Regent,  whom  people 
feared  to  have  as  master.  All  the  churches, 
wherein  for  five  days  nothing  but  cries  of  grief 
had  been  heard,  rang  with  Te  Deums;  no  prayer 
was  addressed  to  heaven  which  was  not  as  much 
against  the  Regent  as  for  the  King. 

The  ordinance  for  the  public  fetes  was  only  a 
permission  to  begin  them,  a  simple  attention  of 
the  police  to  maintain  order.  There  was  not  in  it 
that  threat  of  a  fine,  so  ridiculous,  so  offensive  and 
so  absurdly  contradictory  in  an  ordinance  relating 
to  public  rejoicing. 

Cardinal  Dubois  had  just  ended  a  negotiation 
which  interested  the  Regent  infinitely:  the  mar- 
riage of  the  King  with  the  Infanta  of  Spain,  and 
that  of  Mile,  de  Montpensier,  daughter  of  the 
Regent,  with  the  Prince  des  Asturies.  Philip  V 
had  been  overcome  with  joy  at  having  the  King  of 
France  for  a  son-in-law  and  the  second  marriage 
being  the  necessary  condition  of  the  first,  he  had 
sacrificed  the  resentment  he  might  have  had 
against  the  Regent.  There  remained,  not  a  po- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    291 

litical  difficulty,  but  a  domestic  embarrassment: 
namely,  to  inform  the  King,  whose  consent  form- 
ally given  was  necessary.  This  prince,  still  a 
child,  and  of  a  timid  nature,  might  not  receive 
the  proposition  as  it  was  desired  that  it  should  be. 
Marshal  de  Villeroi,  an  almost  avowed  enemy  of 
the  Regent,  might  perhaps  influence  the  King  un- 
favourably, might  incline  the  cabal  to  circulate  the 
rumour  that  the  Regent  was  making  a  dispropor- 
tionate marriage,  as  to  age,  so  as  to  defer,  as  much 
as  he  could,  the  hope  of  seeing  the  direct  succes- 
sion assured,  and  counted  on  events;  the  Infanta 
was  hardly  more  than,  three  then  and  the  King 
was  in  his  twelfth  year. 

The  Regent,  to  strengthen  his  case  with  the 
King,  confided  the  affair  to  M.  le  due,  who,  being 
superintendent  of  the  King's  education,  was  not  to 
learn  this  news  at  the  same  time  as  the  public. 
He  received  the  confidence  very  pleasantly  and 
much  approved  of  the  alliance.  The  Regent  then 
spoke  of  it  to  the  Bishop  of  Frejus,  telling  him 
that  it  was  a  distinction  granted  him  over  the  mar- 
shal towards  whom  he  enjoined  him  to  the  greatest 
secrecy.  Fleury  first  made  objection  to  the 


292    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Infanta's  age,  replied  rather  coldly  to  the  advances 
which  the  Regent  made  to  have  him  side  with 
him,  said  however  that  he  did  not  believe  that  the 
King  would  resist,  and  promised  to  be  with  the 
King  when  the  announcement  would  be  made. 
It  is  very  doubtful  whether  he  remained  faithful 
to  the  secret,  and  did  not  impart  his  knowledge 
to  the  marshal,  whom  he  treated  with  great  cau- 
tion, who  had  rendered  him  services,  who  was  of 
use  to  him  and  towards  whom  it  was  not  yet  time 
to  be  ungrateful. 

However  that  may  be,  he  seemed  to  wish  to 
avoid  being  present  at  the  announcement.  It 
was  to  be  made  immediately  before  the  meeting 
of  the  regency  council,  to  which  the  King  was  to 
go  at  once  to  confirm  the  consent,  the  yes  uttered 
in  his  closet,  so  that  the  affair  might  be  consum- 
mated. 

The  Regent,  before  entering  the  King's  apart- 
ment, made  inquiry  about  those  who  were  there 
and,  hearing  that  the  Bishop  of  Frejus  had  not 
come,  he  sent  word  to  him  and  only  entered  after 
having  seen  him  come  with  the  eager  air  of  a  man 
who  has  made  a  mistake  in  the  hour.  With  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    293 

King,  in  his  apartment,  there  were  only  the  Re- 
gent, M.  le  due,  Marshal  de  Villeroi,  the  Bishop 
of  Frejus  and  Cardinal  Dubois. 

The  Regent,  affecting  a  playful  air  and  a  tone 
of  respectful  freedom,  told  the  King  of  the  affair 
in  question,  set  off  the  advantages  of  the  alliance 
and  begged  him  to  express  his  satisfaction.  The 
King,  surprised,  was  silent,  appeared  to  be  heavy 
hearted,  and  his  eyes  became  moist  The  Bishop 
of  Frejus,  seeing  that  he  must  make  up  his  mind, 
either  please  the  Regent  or  lose  his  friendship, 
seconded  what  had  been  said.  The  marshal  de- 
cided by  the  example  of  the  bishop :  "  Come, 
my  master,"  said  he  to  the  King,  "  you  must  do 
the  thing  gracefully."  The  Regent  much  em- 
barrassed, M.  le  due  very  taciturn,  and  Dubois, 
with  a  stiff  air,  waited  for  the  King  to  break  the 
silence  which  lasted  seven  or  eight  minutes,  dur- 
ing which  the  bishop  did  not  cease  speaking  in 
low  tones  to  the  King,  and  exhorted  him  with 
tenderness  to  come  to  the  council  meeting  and  de- 
clare his  consent.  The  silence  continuing  and  the 
meeting  of  the  whole  council  before  which  the 
King  would  soon  be,  promising  to  increase  his 


294    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

timidity,  the  bishop  turned  towards  the  Regent 
and  said  to  him :  "  His  Majesty  will  go  to  the 
council,  but  he  requires  a  little  time  to  prepare 
himself."  Thereupon  the  Regent  replied  that  he 
was  made  to  await  the  King's  pleasure,  bowed  to 
him  with  a  loving  and  respectful  air,  went  out, 
making  a  sign  to  the  others  to  follow.  M.  le 
due,  the  marshal  and  the  bishop  remained  with 
the  King.  Dubois,  who,  since  he  was  cardinal, 
no  longer  attended  the  council  meetings,  where  he 
was  refused  precedence,  withdrew  into  another 
room. 

The  Regent,  having  entered  the  council  cham- 
ber, found  all  those  present  much  perplexed  at  the 
secret  conference  in  the  King's  apartment.  Those 
assembled  had  been  looking  at  one  another  for 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  when  the  King  appeared, 
followed  by  the  three  who  had  remained  with 
him. 

As  soon  as  all  were  in  their  seats,  every  eye 
was  turned  on  the  King,  whose  own  were  still  red. 
The  Regent,  addressing  him,  asked  if  he  thought 
it  proper  that  the  council  be  informed  of  his  mar- 
riage. The  King  replied  by  a  yes  rather  short 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     295 

and  low,  but  which  was  nevertheless  heard,  and 
was  sufficient  to  the  Regent,  who  launched  forth 
mto  the  details  of  the  advantages  of  the  alliance. 
When  all  appeared  favourably  disposed,  he  asked 
for  opinions  which  could  not  help  but  be  unani- 
mous, and  every  member  delivered  his  with  a  few 
words  of  approbation.  Marshal  de  Villeroi, 
while  approving  as  the  others,  added  sadly  that  it 
was  unfortunate  that  the  Infanta  should  be  so 
young.  The  remark,  just  in  itself,  was  very  much 
out  of  place;  he  should  have  followed  the  advice 
which  he  had  first  given  to  the  King,  to  do  the 
thing  gracefully,  since  it  had  been  decided;  and 
the  remark  could  only  increase  the  King's  sombre 
humour.  The  Regent  did  not  give  him  time  to 
reflect,  complimented  him,  laid  stress  on  the  una- 
nimity of  the  council's  opinion,  a  guarantee  of  that 
of  all  Frenchmen,  and  at  once,  to  change  the  sub- 
ject, had  an  affair  reported. 

That  same  day  all  the  messengers  were  dis- 
patched. The  King  was  very  serious  the  re- 
mainder of  the  day;  on  the  morrow,  the  compli- 
ments he  received  diverted  him  and  soon  he  con- 
versed with  the  others  about  the  fetes  being  pre- 


296    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

pared  for  the  arrival  of  the  Infanta.  The  Regent 
had  the  sense  not  to  speak  of  the  two  marriages  at 
the  same  time;  jealousy  of  the  second  would  have 
turned  many  people  against  the  first;  but  two 
weeks  after,  when  minds  had  been  made  familiar 
with  the  first  news,  the  Regent  sought  out  the 
King,  and  in  the  presence  of  M.  le  due,  the  bish- 
op, Marshal  de  Villeroi  and  Cardinal  Dubois, 
after  having  informed  the  first  two  of  the  matter, 
gave  an  account  of  the  honour  which  the  King  of 
Spain  wished  to  do  him,  and  asked  the  King  per- 
mission to  accept.  The  King  gave  it  to  him  with 
the  cheerfulness  of  a  child  who  for  the  past  fort- 
night, has  only  heard  of  marriage  and  of  Spain. 
This  alliance  with  Spain  was  a  stunning  blow  to 
the  old  Court.  Marshals  de  Villeroi,  de  Villars, 
d'Huxelles,  de  Tallard,  presented  their  compli- 
ments as  the  others,  and  strove  to  hide  their  dis- 
pleasure, without  being  able  to  conceal  their 
efforts. 

Those  who  only  swore  by  Spain  as  long  as  they 
had  flattered  themselves  to  make  a  bugbear  of  it 
against  the  Regent,  no  longer  knew  on  what  to 
lean,  could  not  get  over  their  surprise  to  see  des- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     297 

tined  to  the  throne  of  Spain  the  daughter  of  a 
prince  whose  head  Philip  V  had  asked  during  the 
last  reign  and  who,  since,  had  waged  war  with 
Spain.  The  choice  of  a  child  which  would  delay 
the  marriage  of  the  King  several  years  appeared 
to  them  a  master  stroke  of  politics.  There  is  ev- 
ery appearance,  however,  that  the  Regent  would 
have  been  but  little  interested  in  the  choice  of  the 
Infanta  if  he  could  without  that  have  married 
his  daughter  to  the  Prince  des  Asturies. 

The  Due  de  Saint-Simon  was  appointed  am- 
bassador extraordinary  to  go  and  ask  the  hand  of 
the  Infanta.  Prince  de  Rohan,  grandfather  of 
the  Marshal  de  Soubise  of  to-day  and  son-in-law 
of  the  Duchesse  de  Ventendour,  was  named  to 
make  the  exchange  of  the  princesses  on  the  fron- 
tier. The  Due  d'Ossone  came  to  Paris,  as  am- 
bassador extraordinary,  to  ask  for  the  hand  of 
Mile,  de  Montpensier. 

We  then  had,  as  ordinary  ambassador  at  Ma- 
drid, the  Marquis  de  Manlevrier-Langeron :  Lauf- 
tez,  an  Irishman  by  birth  and  major  in  the 
gardes  du  corps  of  the  King  of  Spain,  held  in 
Paris  the  same  place  for  Spain.  Whatever  union 


298    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

the  double  marriage  made  between  the  two 
branches  of  the  house  of  France,  the  conduct  of 
our  ministers  at  Madrid  required  prudence. 
There  was,  in  truth,  between  France,  Spain  and 
England,  a  defensive  alliance,  based  on  the  trea- 
ties of  Utrecht  and  the  Triple-Alliance.  In  it 
had  been  stipulated  a  reciprocal  guarantee  of  the 
States  possessed  by  these  three  powers,  which  con- 
firmed, at  least  tacitly,  the  renunciations  and  the 
succession  of  the  crown  of  England  to  the  Prot- 
estant house  of  Hanover.  These  clauses  suited 
the  Regent  very  well,  but  were  not  at  all  to  the 
taste  of  the  King  nor  to  that  of  the  Queen  of 
Spain,  who  retained  the  hope  of  returning  to 
France,  should  it  have  the  misfortune  to  lose  its 
King.  Besides,  France  and  England  had  prom- 
ised its  good  services  to  end  the  differences  which 
remained  to  be  settled  between  the  Emperor  and 
Spain.  But,  there  was  at  that  time  a  new  germ 
of  misunderstanding. 

The  Emperor,  still  retaining  Austrian  ideas, 
had  just  made  a  promotion  of  Grandees  of  Spain. 
Philip  V  complained  of  this  to  the  allied  powers. 
England,  out  of  gratitude  for  the  advantages  she 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    299 

had  secured  from  Spain,  arranged  this  affair  and 
urged  the  Emperor  to  make  a  statement  by  which 
he  made  it  known  that  he  had  not  meant  to  create 
Grandees  of  Spain,  which  title  was  not  to  be  found 
among  those  of  the  lords  to  whom  he  had  simply 
bestowed  distinctions  and  honours  which  any  sov- 
ereign has  the  right  to  do  in  his  Court.  The 
news  of  this  arrangement  reached  Madrid  two 
days  after  the  signing  of  the  contract,  and  quieted 
Philip  V  very  much. 

-  The  custom  in  Spain  is  for  the  King  not  to  sign 
the  marriage  contract  himself,  but  to  have  it 
signed  by  deputies.  This  had  been  done  with 
the  marriage  contracts  of  our  last  two  queens, 
although  at  the  signing  of  that  of  Marie-Therese, 
Louis  XIV  and  Philip  V  were  personally  at  the 
frontier.  The  Due  de  Saint-Simon  desired  the 
King's  signature;  Grimaldo  claimed  the  ancient 
custom,  but  the  King  and  Queen  of  Spain  con- 
sented to  sign,  to  show  their  pleasure  at  the  al- 
liance. During  the  entire  course  of  this  affair, 
Philip  V  showed  himself  more  French  than  he 
had  ever  done.  It  was  not  the  measured  joy  of 
a  King  who  succeeds  in  a  negotiation :  it  was  that 


300    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

of  a  happy  father,  of  a  generous  man  who  be- 
comes reconciled.  Having  heard  that  the  city  of 
Paris  had  complimented  the  Due  d'Ossone,  he  had 
the  city  of  Madrid  pay  a  compliment  to  the  am- 
bassador of  France,  an  honor  which  had  never  be- 
fore been  done  to  an  ambassador. 

Speaking  of  things  without  a  precedent,  one  oc- 
curred for  the  Due  d'Ossone,  one  which  has  since 
served  as  an  example  on  similar  occasions:  the 
Regent,  wishing  to  give  him  the  order  of  the 
Holy-Ghost,  thought  that  the  King,  not  yet  being 
a  chevalier,  and  who  was  not  to  receive  the  order 
before  the  morrow  of  his  coronation,  could  create 
chevaliers  only  when  one  himself.  He  simply 
wore  the  cordon  such  as  is  given  to  all  the  children 
of  France  at  the  time  of  their  birth.  The  Due  d' 
Ossone  was  therefore  granted  permission  to  wear 
the  cordon  while  waiting  for  the  time  when  he 
could  be  knighted. 

More  was  done  in  Spain  for  the  Due  de  Saint- 
Simon  than  was  done  in  France  for  the  Due  d'Os- 
sone. Philip  V  made  him  and  one  of  his  sons, 
whom  the  father  selected,  grandees,  the  honour  to 
be  enjoyed  by  them  at  the  same  time.  He  selected 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     301 

his  second  son.     The  Golden  Fleece  was  given  to 
the  elder. 

All  that  remained  of  the  Austrian  seemed 
smothered  in  the  hearts  of  the  Spaniards,  who  had 
been  able  to  keep  it;  and  the  Frenchmen  by  birth 
who  still  happened  to  be,  through  their  positions, 
attached  to  the  person  of  the  King,  gave  vent  to 
transports  of  delight.  Such  was  Bontin  de  Val- 
ouse,  first  equerry  to  Philip  V  and  chevalier  of 
the  Fleece.  Such  was  also  la  Roche,  first  valet 
of  the  wardrobe,  a  man  of  recognised  honesty, 
so  much  so  that  Philip  V  trusted  him  with  the 
esfampille,  which  is  a  seal  whereon  the  King's 
signature  is  reproduced  most  faithfully.  It  is 
used  in  Spain  to  save  the  King!  the  trouble  of 
signing  himself,  an  invention  both  convenient  and 
dangerous,  an  Asiatic  laziness  which  may  some 
day  pass  on  to  the  ministers.  The  keeping  of 
the  estampille  is  not  a  dignity,  but  a  charge  of 
confidence  not  less  honourable  on  that  account,  and 
La  Roche  was  by  virtue  of  this  secretary  of  the 
cabinet.  Among  the  worthy  French  established 
in  Madrid,  I  must  not  forget  Sartine,  whose  son 
in  Paris  promises  to  become  a  person  of  promi- 


302    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

nence.  Sartine,  born  in  Lyons,  had  done  some 
banking  there;  certain  circumstances  had  caused 
him  to  establish  himself  in  Spain.  He  was  a  man 
of  intelligence  and  probity,  active,  a  hard  worker 
and  fertile  in  resources.  He  had  been  in  charge 
of  the  supply  department  of  the  armies  in  Spain; 
often  consulted  by  the  ministers,  the  generals  and 
the  King  himself,  he  had  many  friends  and  de- 
served them.  He  was  commissary  general  of  the 
navy  when  he  was  dragged  down  by  the  downfall 
of  Tinnaguas,  secretary  of  state,  his  friend,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Alberoni  ministry.  This 
minister,  violent  and  despotic,  who  imputed  to  him 
as  a  crime  his  intimacy  wth  the  Due  de  Saint- 
Aignan,  our  ambassador  at  Madrid,  and  the  latter 
being  compelled  to  leave  Spain  hurriedly,  Sartine 
was  cast  into  prison,  and  only  came  out  on  the 
downfall  of  Alberoni.  He  since  married  a  cam- 
eriste,  who  later  was  a  lady  of  honour  to  the  Queen 
of  Spain,  and  became  commissary  of  Barcelona, 
where  he  died.  His  real  name  was  des  Sardines. 
His  father  was  a  grocer  at  Lyons.  While  in 
Spain  Sartine  wore  the  cross  of  Saint-Michael.  I 
do  not  think,  however,  that  he  was  ever  made  a 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     303 

chevalier  of  that  order;  I  do  not  find  his  name  in 
any  list.  I  wish  that  his  son  may  give  me  an  op- 
portunity to  so  speak  of  him  as  I  do  of  his  father; 
it  depends  on  him:  my  duty  is  to  render  justice. 

One  of  the  principal  clauses  of  the  instructions 
given  to  the  Due  de  Saint-Simon  was  to  see  and 
to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  the  Jesuit  d' 
Aubenton,  the  King's  confessor,  a  very  important 
place  when  it  is  not  a  hollow  title.  From  the  very 
first  visit,  the  good  father  broke  out  into  protesta- 
tions of  his  attachment  to  the  Regent  and  to 
France,  and  of  the  tenderest  esteem  for  the  Due  de 
Saint-Simon,  whose  friendship  for  the  Jesuits,  he 
said,  he  well  knew.  From  this  subject  he  passed 
on  to  the  wish  of  the  King  of  Spain  to  place  the 
Infanta  in  the  hands  of  one  of  their  fathers,  alone 
able  to  early  inspire  in  that  princess  the  true  prin- 
ciples of  religion. 

D'Aubenton  spoke  the  truth  as  to  the  wish  of 
Philip  V;  for  at  the  first  private  audience  which 
that  prince  gave  to  the  ambassador,  he  interrupted 
a  discussion  of  affairs  to  request  him  to  ask  the 
Regent  that  the  Infanta  be  instructed  by  a  Jesuit, 
and  repeated  it  at  different  times. 


304     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  Due  de  Saint-Simon,  already  informed  of 
the  wish  of  Philip  V,  could  only  answer  favour- 
ably to  d'Aubenton's  proposition.  The  zealous 
father,  delighted  with  the  opening,  became  radi- 
ant, caressing  and  after  several  wheedling  circum- 
volutions, and  disconnected  and  vague  phrases: 
"  This  is  not  all,"  said  he,  "  the  King  expects 
still  more  from  Your  Excellency,  from  your  attach- 
ment for  him,  from  your  love  of  religion,  from 
your  friendship  for  our  association."  It  was  cer- 
tainly not  for  the  last  subject  of  eulogy  that  Saint- 
Simon  was  best  known;  but  one  of  the  figures  of 
rhetoric  of  monks  is  to  inspire  zeal  for  themselves, 
by  supposing  that  one  already  possesses  it.  "  The 
King,"  continued  d'Aubenton,  "  is  dying  to  re- 
quest you  to  ask  the  King  to  take  a  Jesuit  as  con- 
fessor and  to  urge  the  Regent  to  second  you. 
The  infirmities  of  Abbe  Fleury  threaten  him  with 
an  early  death;  it  would  therefore  be  proper  to 
get  the  start,  and  that,  in  the  same  dispatch  wherein 
you  ask  for  a  Jesuit  for  the  Infanta,  you  propose 
to  have  one  appointed  to  the  King." 

D'Aubenton  terminated  his  speech  by  a  thou- 
sand offers  of  services  for  the  grandeeship  which 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     305 

the  ambassador  desired,  and  finally  asked  him  to 
give  him  his  opinion  of  the  matter  in  a  friendly 
way. 

The  trap  was  rather  well  laid  and  the  bait  clev- 
erly presented.  Saint-Simon  extricated  himself, 
however.  He  expressed  to  the  Jesuit  much  esteem 
for  his  association,  and  agreed  that  nothing  would 
be  better  than  to  appoint  a  Jesuit  to  the  Infanta, 
since  the  King,  her  father,  desired  it;  but  as  re- 
gards the  King's  confessional  and  the  interior  of 
his  household,  the  proposition  might  possibly  not 
be  better  received  in  France  than  might  be  in  Spain 
that  of  changing  the  confessor  of  Philip  V  or  his 
ministers;  that  it  was  quite  a  step  to  have  a  Jesuit 
accepted  for  the  Infanta ;  that  the  consideration  in 
which  the  association  was  held  would  do  the  rest, 
and  that  they  would  be  the  more  easily  successful 
as  they  would  appear  to  demand  less. 

Let  us  return  to  what  took  place  in  Spain  with 
regard  to  the  double  marriage  before  turning  to 
the  affairs  of  France. 

The  Queen,  Italian  by  birth  and  in  heart,  hated 
the  Spaniards  as  much  as  they  hated  her,  and  the 
daily  evidence  of  this  kept  up  the  reciprocal  hatred. 


306    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  Queen  did  not  hesitate  to  confess  it,  and  the 
people,  on  their  side,  when  the  King  and  the 
Queen  passed,  cried  freely  in  the  streets  and  from 
the  shops:  "  Viva  el  rey  y  la  Savoy  ana!  "  (the 
late  Queen,  adored  of  the  Spaniards,  and  whose 
memory  is  still  venerated) .  The  reigning  Queen 
in  vain  pretended  to  despise  these  cries  of  the  peo- 
ple; she  was  in  despair  over  them;  unfortunately, 
the  people  and  she  were  not  of  equal  strength. 
She  had  all-power  through  a  quite  natural  means. 
The  King's  temperament  made  a  woman  a  neces- 
sity to  him,  and  his  devotion  did  not  permit  of  any 
infidelity.  The  Queen  was  homely,  although  she 
looked  rather  noble,  and  the  King  was  always  in  a 
disposition  which  made  him  think  her  beautiful 
and  treat  her  as  such.  She  made  use  of  all  possi- 
ble coquetry  towards  her  husband,  praised  him 
publicly  and  in  his  presence  on  his  beauty;  and  al- 
though he  had  been  handsome  when  young,  he  was 
then  in  such  a  state  of  decay  as  to  his  face,  that, 
if  princes  were  not  invulnerable  against  the  most 
disgusting  flattery,  he  could  have  taken  that  of  the 
Queen  as  a  derision. 

The  King  and  the  Queen  being  equally  jealous 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     307 

of  what  might  be  said  to  the  one  or  the  other, 
never  left  one  another  day  or  night.  Every  day, 
when  they  awoke,  the  assafeta  came  to  give  them 
manteaux  de  lit,  and  they  said  their  prayers;  after 
which,  Grimaldo,  to  whom  the  other  state's  secre- 
taries turned  over  the  affairs  of  their  departments, 
entered  and  made  his  report.  Grimaldo  being  dis- 
missed, the  King  took  his  dressing-gown,  stepped 
into  a  side  room  to  dress,  and  the  Queen  into  the 
room  where  she  had  her  dressing-table.  The 
King,  soon  dressed,  had  his  confessor  enter,  and 
after  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of  confession  or  private 
conversation,  went  to  join  the  Queen :  the  children 
came  to  them.  A  few  chief  officers,  the  ladies  and 
the  cameristes  on  duty  composed  the  entire  com- 
pany, the  conversation  turned  on  hunting,  devotion 
or  other  things  of  similar  importance.  The  toi- 
lette lasted  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  The 
King  and  the  Queen  then  passed  into  a  room 
wherein  were  given  private  audiences  to  the  for- 
eign ministers  and  lords  of  the  Court  who  had 
asked  for  them. 

When  some  one  was  ushered  in,  the  Queen  pre- 
tended to  withdraw  into  the  recess  of  a  window; 


308    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

but  the  one  who  had  to  speak  to  the  King  knew 
that  that  prince  would  repeat  all  to  the  Queen, 
that  she  would  be  offended  at  the  attempted  se- 
crecy, and  would  unfavourably  influence  the  King, 
so  that  he  did  not  fail  to  beg  her  to  approach  or 
spoke  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  her,  if  she  per- 
sisted in  her  false  discretion. 

The  Queen  therefore  knew  exactly  what  was 
said  to  the  King,  and  had  besides,  each  week,  an 
hour  in  which  she  could,  without  the  King's  knowl- 
edge, converse  with  those  whom  she  wished  to 
have  secretly  introduced :  that  day  was  the  one  on 
which  the  King  gave  a  private  audience. 

The  King,  with  his  hat  on  his  head,  seated  in 
front  of  a  table,  the  grandees  standing,  side  by 
side  against  the  wall  and  also  with  their  hats  on, 
each  individual  who  had  given  his  name  was  called 
in  the  order  it  was  written.  He  knelt  before  the 
King,  explained  his  business  in  a  very  few  words, 
usually  left  a  memorandum  on  the  table,  arose, 
and  withdrew  after  having  kissed  the  King's  hand. 
The  priests  were  distinguished  from  the  worldly, 
to  the  extent  of  being  ordered  to  rise  when  they 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     309 

had  made  a  genuflexion.  If  any  one  of  those  who 
came  to  this  audience  wished  not  to  be  heard  by  any 
one  and  if  he  were  known,  he  said  so.  Then  the 
officer  who  held  the  list  turned  towards  the  gran- 
dees, saying  aloud:  "This  is  a  secret  audience;" 
all  went  out  and  returned  only  after  that  individual 
had  withdrawn.  The  only  captain  of  the  guards, 
outside,  held  the  door  partly  open  so  that,  although 
unable  to  hear  anything,  he  could  with  his  head  in 
the  room,  always  see  the  King  and  the  one  who 
spoke  to  him. 

If  the  Queen  took  advantage  of  this  audience  to 
talk  to  someone,  it  had  to  be  done  very  secretly; 
for  the  King  was  always  anxious  as  to  what  might 
be  said  privately  to  her,  so  anxious  that  when  she 
was  confessing,  if  the  confession  lasted  longer  than 
usual,  he  entered  the  room  and  called  her. 

They  took  communion  together  every  week,  and 
the  Queen's  ladies  would  have  displeased  him  had 
they  not  done  the  same. 

The  King's  sole  amusement  was  the  hunt,  which 
was  not  less  sad  than  the  rest  of  his  life.  Peas- 
ants formed  an  enclosure  for  a  battue,  and  made 


310    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

stags,  boars,  deer,  foxes,  etc.,  pass  before  the  King 
and  Queen,  who,  hidden  in  a  bower,  fired  on  the 
animals. 

What  is  known  of  the  life  of  Mme.  de  Main- 
tenon  and  what  is  seen  here  of  the  Queen  of 
Spain's  conduct  is  sufficient  evidence  of  the  torture 
of  the  women  who  wish  to  govern  the  most  subju- 
gated kings.  If  one  uncovers  the  private  life  of 
favourites,  one  will  have  pity  of  a  position  so  cov- 
eted. 

Whatever  influence  the  Queen  may  have  had 
over  the  King's  mind,  she  was  compelled  to  study 
him  at  all  moments,  to  create  or  make  use  of  op- 
portunities, to  give  in  on  occasions  and  to  employ 
the  advantages  given  her  by  the  King's  tempera- 
ment. The  Queen's  refusal  irritated  her  husband, 
excited  him  more  and  more,  sometimes  produced 
violent  scenes  and  ended  by  having  the  Queen  ob- 
tain what  she  wanted.  The  violence  of  the  King's 
desires  made  the  Queen's  strength. 

Philip  V,  born  with  a  sense  of  justice,  but  not 
yery  broad,  was  silent,  reserved,  even  timid,  dis- 
trustful of  himself.  His  education  acquired  in 
France,  his  mode  of  life  in  Spain  had  only  con- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     311 

firmed  his  character.  Taciturn  and  through  that 
itself  a  more  careful  observer  of  those  who  ap- 
proached him,  he  noticed  their  ridiculous  sides,  and 
sometimes,  in  the  privacy  of  his  solitude,  gave 
amusing  accounts  of  them. 

He  was  very  watchful  over  his  health :  his  phy- 
sician, had  he  been  an  intriguer,  could  have  played 
a  great  part.  Lyghins,  an  Irishman,  who  occu- 
pied that  first  place,  far  removed  from  intrigue  and 
cupidity,  learned  in  his  art,  devoted  himself  to  it 
solely.  After  his  death,  the  Queen  had  the  posi- 
tion given  to  Servi,  her  private  physician. 

Philip  V  had  loved  war,  although  he  had  waged 
it  in  a  singular  manner.  He  never  made  a  plan  of 
campaign,  relying  on  his  general  officers  for  his 
military  operations;  he  only  contributed  to  them 
by  his  presence.  If  they  placed  him  out  of  danger,, 
he  remained  there,  and  did  not  consider  it  a  part 
of  his  glory  to  approach  it.  If  the  chances  of  the 
day  placed  him  in  the  midst  of  the  sharpest  fire,  he 
remained  there  with  the  same  calmness,  and  en- 
joyed looking  at  those  who  showed  fear. 

Easy  to  serve,  good,  familiar  with  his  private 
servants,  wholly  French  at  heart,  he  only  wel- 


312     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

corned  the  Spaniards  out  of  gratitude  for  their 
services.  Tenderly  loving  the  King,  his  nephew, 
he  retained  a  hope  of  returning  if  we  had  the  mis- 
fortune of  losing  this  sole  scion  of  the  royal  fam- 
ily. Yet  he  would  not  have  ascended  without 
scruples  the  throne  of  his  forefathers,  after  the 
solemn  renunciations  which  he  had  made  to  the 
crown  of  France.  He  could  not,  on  the  same 
principle,  consider  as  illusory  the  renunciation  of 
Marie-Therese  of  Austria,  to  the  throne  of  Spain, 
on  marrying  Louis  XIV.  His  conscience  would 
have  been  at  rest  on  neither  of  the  thrones.  These 
scruples,  which  his  confessor  had  difficulty  in  dis- 
sipating, are  not  those  of  a  strong-minded  man, 
nor,  we  may  say,  worthy  of  a  prince,  but  they  be- 
long to  a  pure  soul.  His  remorse,  more  curbed 
than  destroyed,  has  been  the  principal  cause  of  his 
abdication,  and  of  the  reluctance  he  had  in  again 
taking  the  crown  after  the  death  of  his  son  Louis 
I.  The  throne  transmitted  to  his  son  can  not, 
according  to  his  scruples,  have  appeared  less  of 
an  usurpation,  if  such  there  was;  but  after  all  it 
sufficed  that  he  made  the  sole  sacrifice  depending 
on  him.  Besides,  scrupulous  souls  are  very  con- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     313 

sistent  neither  in  that  which  disturbs  them,  nor  in 
that  which  calms  them. 

The  Queen  was  of  quite  opposite  character;  to 
reign  was  all  to  her.  The  least  legitimate  pos- 
session would  have  been  a  right  in  her  eyes. 
Raised  in  her  father's  little  Court,  she  had  not 
there  acquired  a  very  exact  idea  of  the  Courts  of 
Europe.  Yet  she  thought  herself  made  to  reign, 
well  or  ill,  from  the  day  she  ascended  the  throne. 
We  have  seen  how  fortune  placed  her  there. 

She  first  proposed  two  objects  to  herself  and 
never  lost  sight  of  them.  The  first,  to  establish 
her  influence  so  firmly  over  the  mind  of  the  King 
that  she  might  rule  under  that  prince's  name. 
The  second,  to  provide  against  the  state  of  widow 
of  a  King  of  Spain  who  would  have  as  a  successor 
a  son  of  whom  she  was  not  the  mother. 

She  therefore  resolved  to  procure  a  sovereignty 
for  one  of  her  sons,  where  she  might  some  day  re- 
tire, again  reign,  or  at  least  not  obey. 

The  Court  of  Spain  was  and  continued  to  be  di- 
vided into  two  cabals;  the  Italian,  the  least  numer- 
ous, was  the  dominant  one  through  the  Queen's 
favour.  The  Spanish  cabal,  for  which  were  all  the 


314    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

prayers  of  the  nation,  moaned  at  the  credit  of  the 
Italians  and  hated  them  cordially.  Almost  all  im- 
portant places  were,  in  truth,  occupied  by  Span- 
iards, but  they  were  limited  to  the  titles  of  these 
places  of  which  but  few  performed  the  duties  ow- 
ing to  the  solitude  in  which  the  Queen  constantly 
kept  the  King.  The  surgeon,  the  apothecary  and 
the  personal  valets  were  French. 

The  two  princesses  whose  contracts  had  just 
been  signed,  arrived  on  the  same  day  in  the  island 
of  Pheasants  of  the  river  of  Bidassoa,  where  the 
exchange  was  made,  and  where  had  taken  place  in 
1659  the  interview  of  Louis  XIV,  the  Queen,  his 
mother,  and  of  Philip  IV,  brother  to  the  Queen. 

There  were  at  first  a  few  difficulties  over  the  act 
of  exchange  between  Prince  de  Rohan  and  the 
Marquis  de  Santa  Cruz.  The  former  had  called 
himself  Highness  in  the  French  act.  Santa-Cruz, 
majordomo  major  to  the  Queen  of  Spain,  charged 
with  accompanying  the  Infanta,  declared  that  he 
would  pass  over  everything  they  might  wish  in  the 
French  act,  because  Spain  did  not  have  to  settle  the 
titles  and  ranks  of  the  French,  but  that  in  the  Span- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     315 

ish  act,  the  only  title  given  to  both  would  be  ex- 
cellency. Prince  de  Rohan,  seeing  that  in  that  act, 
Santa-Cruz  did  not  take  the  title  of  grandee,  did 
not  take  that  of  duke  and  peer,  and  contented  him- 
self with  signing  the  exchange,  without  any  addi- 
tion of  rank. 

The  exchange  being  made,  the  Infanta  took  the 
raad  to  Paris,  and  Mile,  de  Montpensier  that  of 
Madrid.  The  two  princesses  were  followed  by 
no  one  of  their  nation,  with  the  exception  of  a  sub- 
governess  (de  Nieves,  segnora  de  honor]  who 
was  left  to  the  Infanta,  because  of  her  youth. 

I  shall  not  linger  over  the  celebrations  which 
fill  the  journals;  but  I  shall  continue  to  call  atten- 
tion to  special  matters  worthy  of  notice. 

The  Spanish  gravity  and  reserve  do  not  permit 
of  seeing  a  married  couple  going  to  bed.  How- 
ever, our  ambassador,  wishing  to  establish  the  wed- 
ding of  the  Prince  des  Asturies,  for  the  couple 
were  not  to  live  together  before  a  year,  because  of 
the  prince's  delicate  health,  obtained  from  Their 
Catholic  Majesties  a  derogation  to  the  etiquette  of 
Spain,  and  in  order  to  persuade  them  cited  what 


316    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

had  taken  place  at  the  marriage  of  the  Due  de 
Bourgogne.  A  French  example  was  very  power- 
ful on  the  mind  of  Philip  V.  The  precaution  was 
then  taken  to  gain  over  a  few  sober  persons  whose 
approbation  prevented  the  others  from  being 
shocked.  At  last  the  couple  were  put  to  bed  and 
the  curtains  open,  members  of  the  Court  were  al- 
lowed to  enter  the  room.  A  quarter  of  an  hour 
after,  the  curtains  were  drawn  together.  The  Due 
de  Popoli,  tutor  to  the  prince,  remained  under  the 
curtain  on  one  side,  and  the  Duchesse  de  Mon- 
teillano,  governess  to  the  princess,  on  the  other. 
After  a  few  minutes,  all  those  present  were  dis- 
missed and  the  couple  separated. 

The  Princess  des  Asturies,  from  the  first  days 
of  her  arrival  at  the  Court  of  Spain,  exhibited  evi- 
dences of  a  sombre  and  sullen  humour.  She  had 
almost  to  be  forced  to  call  upon  the  King  and 
Queen.  The  most  elaborate  preparations  had  been 
made  for  a  ball  which  Their  Catholic  Majesties 
and  the  entire  Court  looked  forward  to  with  dt- 
light.  The  princess  refused  to  appear  there,  with- 
out reason,  but  solely  through  the  whim  of  a  dull 
and  foolish  child;  either  she  did  not  reply  to  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    317 

remonstrances  made  to  her,  or  her  reply  was  that 
the  King  and  Queen  could  live  according  to  their 
fancy,  and  that  she  wished  to  live  according  to  her 
own.  The  details  of  scenes  sadly  ridiculous  would 
be  disgusting,  even  in  the  simple  memoirs  such  as 
these  I  write.  To  complete  in  a  few  words  that 
which  concerns  her,  she  continued  to  be  at  Madrid 
as  foolish,  as  dull,  as  sullen  as  we  have  since  seen 
her  in  Paris,  where  she  came  to  vegetate,  dowager 
Queen  of  Spain,  from  1725  to  1742,  when  she  died 
in  the  Luxembourg. 

The  Infanta  arrived  in  Paris  and  there  received 
the  honours  of  a  Queen;  she  was  even  given  that 
title  in  all  the  accounts.  Events  have  shown  that 
people  had  been  too  hasty  in  calling  her  Queen. 
There  was  no  risk,  and  it  would  have  been  more 
proper  to  wait,  since,  independently  of  her  desti- 
nation, she  took,  by  her  birth  alone,  precedence  of 
Madame.  It  is  true  that  in  anticipation  the  title 
of  Dauphine  had  been  bestowed  on  the  Duchesse 
de  Bourgogne,  as  soon  as  she  arrived  in  France; 
but  that  was  necessary  to  give  her  precedence  which 
no  princess  of  the  blood  would  have  given  her,  in 
view  of  her  then  being  only  the  daughter  of  a 


318    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Duke  of  Savoy,  who,  not  yet  being  a  King,  gave 
way  to  the  electors. 

As  soon  as  our  ambassador  had  fulfilled  his  mis- 
sion in  Spain,  he  hastened  the  more  to  leave  that 
country,  as  Cardinal  Dubois  had  a  mind  to  keep 
him  there  on  various  pretexts. 

On  the  1 6th  of  February,  the  King,  having  en- 
tered into  his  fourteenth  year,  received  the  com- 
pliments of  the  Court  on  having  reached  his  ma- 
jority, and  on  the  22nd  he  came  on  that  account  to 
the  Parliament  to  hold  his  bed  of  justice,  and 
created  three  dukes  and  peers  at  that  session: 
Biron,  Levis  and  La  Valliere.  The  family  of  the 
first  ingenuously  urged  in  their  application  the  loss 
of  the  duchy,  through  the  condemnation  of  Charles 
de  Biron,  for  the  crime  of  lese-majeste.  Others 
wished  to  use  this  as  a  motive  of  exclusion:  yet 
too  much  should  not  be  made  of  personal  faults. 
It  is  just  and  the  part  of  a  wise  government  that 
a  family  ruined  by  its  faults  should  be  allowed  to 
rise  again  by  its  services. 

The  regency  council  ceased  to  exist  on  the  ma- 
jority and  the  councils  resumed  the  form  they  had 
under  the  late  King,  with  the  exception  of  the  two 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     319 

princes  of  the  blood,  the  Due  de  Chartres  and  M. 
le  due,  who  entered  the  Council  of  State,  with  the 
Due  d'Orleans.  Cardinal  Dubois  was  a  member 
by  right  and  he  introduced  into  it  the  Comte  de 
Morville,  by  giving  him  the  department  of  For- 
eign Affairs. 

Cardinal  Dubois,  in  spite  of  his  power,  feared 
all  those  who  approached  the  King.  To  restrict 
as  much  as  possible  the  court  of  intimates,  he  had 
the  grand  and  first  receptions  which  were  granted 
by  Louis  XIV  suppressed  and  in  their  stead  he 
created  others  called  familiar,  which  he  limited  to 
himself,  to  the  princes  of  the  blood  and  to  the 
Comte  de  Toulouse,  to  the  Duchesse  de  Ventadour 
and  to  the  Due  de  Charost,  and  extended  them  to 
the  Due  du  Maine  and  to  his  two  sons  when  they 
were  restored  to  the  honours  of  princes  of  the 
blood.  At  first  he  did  not  grant  them  to  the 
Bishop  of  Frejus;  but  seeing  soon  that  it  would  be 
imprudent  to  refuse  them  to  a  man  cherished  of  the 
King,  and  who  would  finally  obtain  them  from 
that  prince  himself,  a  few  days  after  he  placed  his 
name  on  the  list,  as  if  it  had  been  omitted  through 
oversight. 


320    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

The  suspicions  of  the  cardinal  increased  from 
day  to  day.  He  noticed  that  the  King  had  no  lik- 
ing for  him.  Independently  of  an  ugliness  of 
face,  of  a  natural  stammer  which  a  habit  of  deceit 
and  of  primitive  servitude  had  increased  still 
more,  his  manners  were  never  more  awkward  nor 
more  disagreeable  than  when  he  strove  to  please. 
He  lacked  the  exterior  polish  of  education  which 
can  no  longer  be  acquired  after  a  certain  age;  so 
that  being  unable  to  attain  politeness  when  he 
needed  it,  he  seemed  low  and  fawning;  and  his 
habitual  coarseness  to  the  eyes  of  a  young  prince 
accustomed  to  the  respect  and  charm  of  the  Re- 
gent, had  an  air  of  insolence. 

The  cardinal,  to  overcome  as  much  as  he  could 
the  King's  disgust,  often  presented  him  with  nov- 
elties suitable  to  his  age.  Destouches,  our  minis- 
ter at  London,  was  intrusted  with  these  commis- 
sions, and  the  cardinal  requested  that  they  only 
be  sent  one  after  another,  so  as  to  multiply  the  oc- 
casions to  please  the  King  and  keep  up  his  grat- 
itude. 

As  the  King  was  reviewing  his  own  troops,  the 
cardinal  wished  to  enjoy  the  honours  of  premier 


CARDINAL  DUBOIS 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     321 

minister,  which  are  almost  the  same  as  those  ren- 
dered to  the  person  of  the  King.  He  mounted  a 
horse  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  the  arrival  of 
the  King  and  passed  in  front  of  the  troops,  who 
saluted  him,  sword  in  hand.  I  saw,  a  few  years 
after,  the  King's  Household  do  the  same  for  Cardi- 
nal de  Fleury,  who  had  not  taken  the  title  of  pre- 
mier minister,  but  who  enjoyed  full-power.  A 
thing  which  proves  that  these  honours  were  not 
compulsory  is  that  the  Due  d'Harcourt,  captain 
of  a  company  of  gardes  du  corps,  displeased  at 
Cardinal  de  Fleury,  saw  him  pass  without  making 
him  the  slightest  salute,  and  the  regiment  remained 
as  still  as  the  captain. 

Cardinal  Dubois  paid  dearly  for  this  little  satis- 
faction. The  movements  of  the  horse  caused  an. 
abscess  to  burst  which  led  the  physicians  to  believe 
that  gangrene  would  soon  set  in  in  the  bladder. 
They  declared  to  him  that  unless  he  were  operated 
on  promptly  he  had  not  four  days  to  live.  He  be- 
came violently  angry  at  this.  The  Due  d'Orleans, 
notified  of  the  patient's  condition,  had  much 
trouble  to  quiet  him  and  to  persuade  him  to  allow 
himself  to  be  taken  to  Versailles,  where  another 


322     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

scene  took  place.  When  the  Faculty  suggested 
that  he  receive  the  sacraments  before  the  opera- 
tion, his  fury  knew  no  bounds  and  he  angrily  ad- 
dressed everyone  who  approached  him.  At  last, 
giving  way  to  exhaustion  after  so  much  frenzy, 
he  sent  for  a  Franciscan  friar,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained alone  about  ten  minutes.  Then  mention 
was  made  of  bringing  him  the  Viaticum.  "  The 
Viaticum!"  he  exclaimed,  "that  is  easily  said; 
there  is  a  great  ceremony  for  cardinals;  let  some- 
one be  sent  to  Paris  to  find  out  from  Bissy."  The 
surgeons,  seeing  the  danger  of  the  least  delay,  told 
him  that  in  the  meantime  the  operation  might  be 
performed.  At  each  proposal,  he  gave  way  to 
new  attacks  of  fury.  The  Due  d'Orleans  decided 
him  by  dint  of  entreaties  and  the  operation  was 
performed  by  La  Peyronie,  but  the  nature  of  the 
sore  and  of  the  pus  showed  that  the  patient  would 
not  last.  As  long  as  he  was  in  possession  of  his 
senses,  he  did  not  cease  with  grindings  of  the  teeth 
to  inveigh  against  the  Faculty.  The  convulsions 
of  death  combined  with  those  of  despair  and  when 
he  was  no  longer  able  to  see,  to  hear  or  to  blas- 
pheme, extreme-unction  was  administered  to  him 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     323 

and  took  the  place  of  the  Viaticum.     He  died  on 
the  morrow  of  the  operation. 

''Thus  ended  that  phenomenon  of  fortune, 
loaded  with  honours  and  riches.  He  possessed, 
besides  the  archbishopric  of  Cambrai,  seven  im- 
portant abbeys,  and  when  he  died  he  was  trying 
to  secure  those  of  Citeaux,  of  Premontre  and  oth- 
ers. I  see  in  a  letter  dated  May  19,  1722,  and 
written  by  the  cardinal  to  Chavigny,  one  of  his 
agents  at  Madrid,  that  not  content  with  the  pre- 
miership, he  wished  to  have  revived  for  himself 
the  ancient  sovereignty  of  Cambrai.  He  requests 
Chavigny  to  look  up  the  titles  in  Spain.  "If  the 
King  of  Spain,"  he  says  in  his  letter,  "  has  been 
an  usurper  as  he  appears  to  have  been  by  the  pro- 
tests which  the  archbishops  have  always  made,  the 
King  of  France  is  the  wrongful  holder."  Chav- 
igny was  unsuccessful  in  his  search. 

The  office  of  premier  minister  was  worth  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  livres  to  the  cardinal 
and  the  superintendency  of  the  mails  one  hundred 
thousand  livres.  But,  what  is  shameful  for  a  min- 
ister and  would  be  for  any  Frenchman,  he  received 

from  England  a  pension  of  forty  thousand  pounds 


324    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

sterling,  worth  about  one  million,  evident  proof 
of  the  sacrifice  he  made  of  France  to  the  English. 
He  made  them  one  very  unworthy  of  his  office. 
King  George  had  imposed  an  extraordinary  tax  of 
one  hundred  thousand  pounds  sterling  on  the  Cath- 
olics of  England.  At  the  first  news  of  this,  our 
entire  council  took  sides  with  them  and  instructed 
Cardinal  Dubois  to  complain  vigorously  against  it 
and  to  ask  for  the  repeal  of  the  tax.  Nothing  but 
the  dignity  of  the  cardinal  should  have  kept  him 
from  tergiversating.  He  wrote  a  very  strong  let- 
ter, read  it  to  the  council,  who  approved  of  it  and 
had  it  sent.  George's  ministers  were  at  first  so 
embarrassed  that  they  did  not  know  what  to  do; 
they  were  about  to  repeal  the  tax,  but  they  were 
soon  reassured.  The  cardinal,  after  the  departure 
of  the  first  messenger,  had  promptly  dispatched 
one  to  Destouches,  our  agent  in  London,  with  a 
letter  in  cipher  dated  November  19,  1722,  in  which 
he  instructed  him  to  calm  the  English  ministers 
and  assured  them  that  we  would  not  follow  up  that 
matter. 

Besides  this  he  enjoyed  the  income  of  two  mil- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     325 

lions,  without  counting  cash  and  an  immense  quan- 
tity of  furniture,  carriages,  silver  and  jewelry  of 
all  kinds.  More  greedy  than  avaricious,  he  kept 
a  superb  house  and  a  sumptuous  table  of  which  he 
did  the  honours  very  well,  although  personally 
sober. 

The  immense  collection  of  furniture  of  the  car- 
dinal went  to  his  elder  brother,  Dubois,  secretary 
of  the  cabinet,  since  the  younger  had  become  secre- 
tary of  state. 

Cardinal  Dubois  no  doubt  possessed  great  in- 
telligence, but  he  was  much  inferior  to  his  office. 
More  fit  for  intrigue  than  for  administration,  he 
actively  followed  an  object  without  grasping  all 
the  bearings.  The  affair  which  interested  him  at 
one  time  rendered  him  incapable  of  attention  for 
any  other.  He  had  neither  the  extensiveness  nor 
that  flexibility  of  mind  necessary  to  a  minister  in- 
trusted with  different  operations,  and  which  must 
frequently  come  together.  Wishing  that  noth- 
ing should  escape  him,  and  being  unable  to  suffice 
t«o  all,  he  has  been  seen  at  times  throwing  a  pile 
of  sealed  letters  into  the  fire,  "  to  post  himself." 


326    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

he  said.  What  injured  his  administration  most 
was  the  suspicions  which  he  inspired,  the  opinion 
people  had  of  his  person. 

He  despised  virtue  as  openly  as  he  disdained 
hypocrisy,  although  he  was  full  of  deceitfulness. 
He  had  more  vices  than  faults;  though  quite  ex- 
.empt  of  meanness,  he  was  not  so  of  folly.  He 
never  blushed  at  his  birth,  and  did  not  select  the 
ecclesiastic  habit  as  a  veil  which  covers  all  origin, 
but  as  the  foremost  means  of  rising  for  an  ambi- 
tion without  extraction.  If  he  caused  all  honours 
of  etiquette  to  be  rendered  him,  childish  vanity 
had  nothing  to  do  with  it;  it  was  the  conviction, 
that  honours  due  to  offices  and  dignities  equally 
belong,  without  distinction  of  birth,  to  all  those 
who  take  possession  of  them,  and  that  it  is  as  much 
a  duty  as  a  right  to  demand  them. 

In  having  rendered  to  him  what  was  his  due, 
he  was  not  the  more  dignified.  No  haughtiness 
was  experienced  from  him  but  much  vulgar  harsh- 
ness. The  least  contradiction  angered  him,  and 
in  his  fury,  he  has  been  seen  to  rush  against  the 
chairs  and  tables  of  his  apartment. 

On  the  day  of  Easter  which  followed  his  pro- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     327 

motion  to  the  cardinalship,  having  awakened  a 
little  later  than  usual,  he  broke  out  into  curses 
against  all  his  servants,  because  they  had  allowed 
him  to  oversleep  on  a  day  when  they  knew  that  he 
wished  to  say  mass.  They  hurried  to  dress  him, 
he  swearing  the  while.  He  recalled  some  affair, 
sent  for  his  secretary,  forgot  to  go  and  say  mass, 
even  to  hear  it. 

He  generally  ate  a  chicken  wing  every  evening. 
One  day,  about  the  time  he  was  to  be  served,  a 
dog  carried  away  the  chicken.  His  servants  saw 
nothing  better  to  do  than  to  put  another  one  on 
the  spit  immediately.  The  cardinal  asks  for  his 
chicken  on  the  instant;  the  maitre  d'hotel,  forsee- 
ing  his  fury  if  he  were  told  of  the  fact,  or  asked 
to  wait  later  than  the  usual  hour,  makes  up  his 
mind  and  says  coldly :  "  Monseigneur,  you  have 
had  your  supper." 

u  I  have  had  my  supper?  "  replied  the  cardinal. 

"  Of  course,  Monseigneur.  It  is  true  that  you 
ate  but  little,  you  seemed  to  be  much  wrapped  in 
thought;  but  if  you  wish,  another  chicken  will  be 
served  you;  it  will  not  take  long." 

Dr.  Chirac,  who  saw  him  every  evening,  comes 


328     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

in  at  that  moment.  The  valets  inform  him  as  to 
the  situation  and  beg  him  to  assist  them.  w 

" Parbleu"  says  the  cardinal;  "here  is  some- 
thing strange !  My  men  wish  to  persuade  me  that 
I  have  had  my  supper;  I  have  not  the  slightest  rec- 
ollection of  it  and,  moreover,  I  feel  very  hungry." 

"So  much  the  better,"  replies  Chirac;  "work 
has  made  you  very  tired,  the  first  pieces  of  meat 
must  have  only  aroused  your  appetite,  and  you  may 
eat  a  little  more  without  danger.  Have  Mon- 
seigneur  served,"  added  he  to  the  servants.  "  I 
shall  watch  him  finish  his  supper."  The  chicken 
was  brought.  The  cardinal  looked  upon  his  eat- 
ing twice  as  an  evident  sign  of  health,  and  was, 
during  the  meal,  in  the  best  possible  humour. 

He  did  not  constrain  himself  for  anyone.  The 
Princess  Montauban-Bautru  having  displeased 
him,  which  was  no  hard  matter,  he  sent  her  about 
her  business  in  energetic  terms.  She  went  to  com- 
plain to  the  Regent  from  whom  she  received  only 
the  reply  that  the  cardinal  was  a  bit  quick,  but 
otherwise  of  good  advice.  Dubois  did  not  act 
differently  with  Cardinal  de  Gesvres,  a  grave  man 
and  of  severe  morals.  The  reparations  of  the 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     329 

Regent,  being  of  the  same  kind  as  the  minister's 
offences,  people  became  accustomed  to  look  upon 
his  words  as  without  importance. 

It  was  not  necessary  to  displease  him  in  order 
to  experience  outbursts  from  him.  The  Marquise 
de  Conflans,  the  governess  to  the  Regent,  having 
gone  to  the  cardinal's  solely  to  pay  him  a  visit, 
found  him  in  a  moment  of  ill  humour.  She  was 
unknown  to  him  and  hardly  had  she  said: 
"  Monseigneur  .  .  ." 

"  Ho !  Monseigneur,"  said  the  cardinal,  cutting 
her  short,  "  it  can  not  be  done." 

"  But,  Monseigneur     .     .     ." 

"  But,  but,  there  is  no  but,  when  I  tell  you  that 
it  can  not  be  done." 

The  marquise  uselessly  attempted  to  explain 
that  she  sought  no  favours.  The  cardinal,  with- 
out listening,  took  her  by  the  shoulders,  turned  her 
around  and  made  her  go  out.  The  marquise, 
frightened,  thought  him  suffering  from  an  attack 
of  insanity,  was  not  much  mistaken  and  fled  cry- 
ing that  he  should  be  locked  up. 

Sometimes  he  could  be  calmed  if  the  same  tone 
were  applied  to  him.  He  had  among  his  private 


330     SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

secretaries  an  unfrocked  benedictine,  named 
Venier,  a  man  of  unscrupulous  character.  The 
cardinal,  while  having  him  work  with  him,  had 
need  of  a  paper  which  he  did  not  find  at  hand  at 
a  given  time;  he  becomes  excited,  swears,  exclaims 
that  with  thirty  clerks  he  cannot  be  waited  on,  that 
he  is  going  to  hire  one  hundred  and  will  be  no 
better  off.  Venier  looks  at  him  calmly,  without 
answering,  lets  him  give  vent  to  his  complaint. 
The  phlegm  and  the  silence  of  the  secretary  in- 
crease the  fury  of  the  cardinal  who,  taking  him 
by  the  arm,  shakes  him  and  shouts:  'Why  do 
you  not  answer  me,  scoundrel;  is  it  not  true?  " 

"  Monseigneur,"  says  Venier,  not  at  all  moved, 
"  take  but  one  more  clerk  to  swear  for  you,  you 
will  have  time  to  spare  and  all  will  be  well." 

The  cardinal  became  calm  and  finally  laughed. 

The  Regent  was  delighted  at  his  minister's 
death.  On  the  day  of  the  operation  the  extremely 
warm  atmosphere  turned  to  storm;  at  the  first 
thunder  crash,  the  prince  could  not  help  saying: 
"  I  hope  that  this  weather  will  cause  my  rogue  to 
depart."  In  fact,  he  had  no  more  consideration 
for  his  former  master  than  for  any  one  else: 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     331 

the  Regent  hardly  dared  to  make  him  the  slightest 
recommendation.  The  prince  had  kept  for  him- 
self the  benefice  and  favour  sheet  in  return  for 
his  work  with  the  King;  but  he  had  allowed  him- 
self to  be  required  to  first  communicate  the  list 
to  the  cardinal  who  insolently  crossed  out  the 
names  of  those  he  did  not  like.  Never  was 
servitude  more  shameful  than  that  wherein  this 
prince  had  placed  himself,  which  he  felt  painfully, 
which  he  was  ashamed  to  acknowledge,  and  from 
which  he  had  not  the  strength  to  free  himself. 

As  soon  as  the  cardinal  had  expired,  the  Regent 
came  from  Versailles  to  Meudon  to  announce  it 
to  the  King,  who,  already  prepared  by  the  Bishop 
of  Frejus,  requested  the  prince  to  take  charge  of 
the  government,  and  the  next  day  appointed  him 
premier  minister. 

As  the  King  had  only  been  transferred  to 
Meudon  for  the  convenience  of  the  cardinal,  he 
returned  to  Versailles  two  days  after. 

At  first  the  Due  d'  Orleans  appeared  to  wish 
to  give  himself  up  to  work;  but  his  laziness  and 
dissipation  soon  caused  him  to  abandon  affairs  to 
the  secretaries  of  state  and  he  continued  to  give 


332    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

himself  up  to  low  debauchery.  His  health  was 
visibly  affected  by  this,  and  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  the  morning  he  was  in  a  state  of  torpor 
which  rendered  him  incapable  of  application.  It 
was  foreseen  that  at  any  moment,  he  would  be 
carried  away  by  an  attack  of  apoplexy.  His 
faithful  servants  strove  to  have  him  diet  himself, 
or  at  least  to  give  up  the  excesses  which  might 
kill  him  at  any  time.  He  replied  that  a  foolish 
fear  should  not  deprive  him  of  his  pleasures;  yet 
blase  in  all  things,  he  gave  himself  up  to  them 
more  from  habit"  than  taste.  He  added  that,  far 
from  fearing  a  sudden  death,  that  was  the  sort 
he  would  choose. 

For  some  time  past,  Chirac,  noticing  the 
full-blooded  complexion  of  the  prince  and  his 
bloodshot  eyes,  wanted  to  bleed  him.  On  the 
morning  of  Thursday,  December  2nd,  he  urged 
him  so  earnestly  that  the  prince  to  rid  him- 
self of  the  physician's  persecution,  said  that  he 
had  urgent  affairs  which  could  not  be  put  off, 
but  that,  on  the  following  Monday,  he  would 
surrender  fully  to  the  Faculty,  and  until  then 
would  be  most  careful  in  his  diet.  He  gave  this 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     333 

promise  so  little  thought  that  that  very  day  he 
dined  at  noon,  a  thing  he  never  did,  and  ate 
much  as  was  his  habit. 

In  the  afternoon,  alone  with  the  Duchesse  de 
Phalaris,  one  of  his  fawners,  he  was  amusing  him- 
self while  waiting  for  the  working  hour  with  the 
King.  Seated  one  next  to  the  other,  before  the 
fire,  the  Due  d'  Orleans  suddenly  falls  on  the  arm 
of  the  duchesse  who,  seeing  him  unconscious, 
rises  in  fright  and  calls  for  help,  without  finding 
anyone  in  the  apartment.  The  prince's  servants, 
who  knew  that  he  always  went  to  the  King's 
room  by  a  hidden  staircase  and  that  during  that 
work  hour  no  one  came,  had  gone  away.  We 
have  seen  a  similar  example  of  dispersion  in  the 
King's  apartment  on  the  day  of  the  attack  of 
January  5,  1757,  because  that  prince  was  not  to 
return  to  Versailles  that  day. 

The  Duchesse  de  Phalaris  was  therefore  obliged 
to  run  to  the  courtyards  to  bring  someone.  The 
crowd  was  soon  in  the  apartment,  but  more  than  a 
half  hour  passed  before  a  surgeon  was  found. 
Finally  one  came  and  the  prince  was  bled;  he  was 
dead. 


334    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

Thus  perished  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years 
and  a  few  months  one  of  the  most  amiable  men  in 
the  world,  full  of  wit,  talents,  military  courage, 
goodness,  humanity,  and  one  of  the  worst  princes, 
that  is  to  say,  one  of  the  least  able  to  govern. 

La  Vrilliere  went  at  once  to  announce  the  death 
of  the  Due  d'  Orleans  to  the  King  and  to  the 
Bishop  of  Frejus;  from  there  to  M.  le  due,  whom 
he  exhorted  to  ask  for  the  place  of  premier 
minister;  went  at  once  into  his  offices,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  all  emergencies  he  had  a  patent  drawn  up 
modelled  after  that  of  the  Due  d'  Orleans.  Pro- 
vided with  this  document  and  the  formula  of  the 
oath,  he  returned  to  the  King's  rooms  where  M. 
le  due  had  already  betaken  himself,  followed  by 
a  crowd  of  courtiers. 

The  King,  all  in  tears,  had  near  him  the  Bishop 
of  Frejus  who,  after  having  allowed  the  first 
moments  of  grief  to  pass,  said  to  him  that,  in  order 
to  repair  the  loss  he  had  just  made,  the  most  fitting 
thing  to  do  was  to  request  M.  le  due  to  accept  the 
place  of  premier  minister.  The  King  without  re- 
plying, looked  at  the  bishop,  and  gave  his  approba- 
tion by  a  simple  nod  of  the  head.  M.  le  due 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY    335 

» 

offered  his  thanks  at  once.  La  Vrilliere,  then 
drawing  from  his  pocket  the  formula  of  the  oath, 
asked  the  prelate  if  it  were  not  in  order  to  have 
it  taken  at  once.  The  bishop  much  approved  of 
it  and  proposed  it  to  the  King,  who,  consequently, 
approved  of  it  also.  M.  le  due  took  the  oath  and 
all  was  finished  an  hour  after  the  death  of  the 
Due  d'  Orleans. 

The  Bishop  of  Frejus  could  have  taken  pos- 
session of  the  ministry  just  as  easily  as  he  had  it 
given  to  M.  le  due.  His  friends  advised  him  to 
do  it,  but  the  prelate,  full  of  ambition  for  the 
strength  of  power,  did  not  see  fit  to  so  suddenly 
manifest  his  views  and  flattered  himself  of  secretly 
governing  behind  the  throne  of  a  young  prince 
with  whose  incapacity  he  was  acquainted.  In  case 
of  errors  he  knew,  and  since  then  has  well  proved, 
that  he  was  in  a  position  to  destroy  his  work, 
should  he  have  occasion  to  repent  for  having  done 
it. 

The  sentiments  aroused  by  the  death  of  the  Due 
d'  Orleans  were  very  different,  according  to  the 
various  interests.  His  intimates  said  that  France 
was  losing  a  great  prince,  because  he  bestowed 


336    SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY 

favours  on  them,  and  had  pleasant  suppers  with 
him. 

The  devout  by  profession  spoke  with  com- 
placency of  that  death  as  of  a  visible  punishment 
of  God.  Pious  souls  groaned  at  it.  The  two 
Church  parties  did  not  regret  him;  the  Jansenists 
after  a  glimmer  of  hope  of  rising  again,  saw  them- 
selves once  more  sacrificed  to  their  enemies;  the 
constitutionnalres  did  not  consider  their  triumph 
complete. 

The  soldier  and  specially  the  subaltern  who  is 
the  body  and  soul  of  the  troops,  in  despair  at 
seeing  distinctions,  ranks  given  to  protection,  in- 
trigue, or  sold  by  the  courtiers  or  by  women, 
humiliated  at  having  to  respect  more  an  office 
clerk  than  a  marshal  of  France,  sighed  for  a 
change  of  administration  that  did  not  come. 

The  middle  class  of  citizens,  more  attached  to 
the  State  and  to  the  morals,  saw  the  fruits  of 
its  economy  lost,  fortunes,  patrimonies  overthrown, 
properties  uncertain,  vice  without  shame,  decency 
despised,  scandal  held  in  honour.  They  were  re- 
duced to  the  position  of  regretting  even  the 
hypocrisy  of  the  former  Court.  It  cannot  be  de- 


SECRET  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  REGENCY     337 

nied  that  the  Regency  was  the  epoch,  the  principal 
cause,  and  that  it  set  the  example  and  gave  the 
signal  of  open  corruption. 

Besides  does  this  so-called  quiet  Regency  deserve 
the  praise  for  having  preserved  or  purchased  peace 
abroad,  when  it  has  caused  upset  and  ruin  at  home? 
The  English  alone  might  have  regretted  the  Due 
d'  Orleans  had  they  not  found  the  same  com- 
placency under  the  following  ministry. 


NOTES 

rAGUESSEAU  (Henri  Frangois  d'),  a  French  magistrate, 
born  at  Limoges.  An  eloquent  orator  and  profound 
scholar,  he  distinguished  himself  in  the  midst  of  the 
corrupt  Court  of  Louis  XV  by  the  elevation  of  his 
character,  an  admirable  integrity  and  the  most  absolute 
devotion  to  public  interests. 

ALBERONI  (Julio),  an  Italian  abbe  and  Spanish  minister, 
born  at  Fiorenzuola,  near  Parma.  Son  of  a  gardener, 
he  attained  the  highest  places  through  his  parasitical 
suppleness  and  lively  wit.  Having  become  cardinal  and 
minister  to  Philip  V,  he  sought,  on  the  morrow  of  the 
signing  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  to  raise  Spain  from 
its  decadence,  established  means  of  securing  informa- 
tion throughout  all  Europe  and  particularly  sought 
through  the  medium  of  his  ambassador  in  France, 
Cellamare,  to  have  the  regency  of  Louis  XV  given  to 
his  Sovereign;  but  he  failed  and  was  exiled  (1664- 
1752). 

CELLAMARE  (Antonio  de),  a  Spanish  diplomat,  born  at 
Naples,  Spanish  ambassador  to  the  Court  of  France 
during  the  minority  of  Louis  XV.  He  conspired  to 
serve  the  interest  of  Alberoni,  against  the  Regent,  but 
was  arrested  and  conducted  to  the  frontier  (1657-1733). 

CONSTITUTION  UNIGENITUS,  a  bull  of  1713  by  which 
Pope  Clement  XI  condemned  Jansenism.  Several 
French  prelates  refused  to  receive  the  bull,  which  was, 
during  the  entire  first  part  of  the  eighteenth  century, 

339 


340  NOTES 

the  subject  of  furious  strife  between  the  jansenists  of 
the  Clergy  or  of  the  Parliament  and  the  Jesuits. 

DUBOIS  (Guillaume  cardinal),  minister  during  the  Regency, 
born  at  Brive.  Of  a  low  and  perverse  character,  he 
nevertheless  gave  evidence  of  serious  diplomatic  talent 
(1656-1723). 

FLEURY  (Andre  Hercule,  cardinal  de),  Bishop  of  Frejus, 
minister  of  Louis  XV,  born  at  Lodeve  (1653-1743). 

GASTON,  see  ORLEANS. 

GEORGE  I,  born  in  1660,  at  Osnabruck,  King  of  England 
from  1714  to  1727,  the  first  of  the  dynasty  of  Hanover. 

INFANTA,  see  MARIE  ANNE  VICTORIA. 

JAMES  II,  son  of  Charles  I,  born  in  1633,  King  of  England 
1685 ;  dethroned  by  William  of  Nassau,  Prince  of 
Orange,  in  1688,  he  ended  his  life  in  France  at  the 
chateau  of  Saint-Germain-en-Laye,  in  1702. —  His  son, 
James  Stuart,  called  the  pretender  or  the  chevalier  de 
Saint-George,  born  in  London,  made  several  unsuccess- 
ful attempts  to  recover  the  throne  (1688-1766). 

JANSENISM.  The  doctrines  of  Cornelius  Jansen  which 
tended  to  limit  the  free-will  of  man,  were  defended  in 
France  by  Arnault  and  by  the  theologians  of  Port- 
Royal  ;  but  they  were  disputed  by  the  Jesuits,  against 
whom  Pascal  at  that  time  wrote  the  famous  Lettres 
provinciales,  and  condemned  by  the  Sorbonne  and  by 
Pope  Urban  VIII.  Port-Royal,  in  spite  of  the  persecu- 
tion of  Louis  XIV,  was  for  a  long  time  the  principal 
refuge  of  the  Jansenist  doctrine ;  the  latter  after  the 
destruction  of  the  monastery,  was  again  condemned  by 
the  Pope  in  the  person  of  Father  Quesnel,  in  the  bull 


NOTES  341 

Unigenitus   (1713),  whose  acceptation  was  imposed  on 
all,  under  penalty  of  refusal  of  the  sacraments. 
JOLY  DE  FLEURY  (Guillaume  Francois),  a  French  magis- 
trate, born  in  Paris  (1675-1756). 

LAUZTJN  (Antonin,  due  de),  a  personage  who  played  a 
brilliant  and  adventurous  part  at  the  Court  of  Louis 
XIV,  and  who  has  remained  one  of  the  types  of  the 
clever  and  pretentious  courtiers;  he  married  la  grande 
Mademoiselle,  first  cousin  to  Louis  XIV  (1632-1723). 

LAW  (John),  a  famous  financier,  born  in  Edinburgh,  con- 
troller general  of  the  Finances  of  France,  he  was  the 
founder  of  the  Compagnie  des  Indes  and  organized  dur- 
ing the  Regency  a  banking  system  which  resulted  in 
frightful  bankruptcy  (1671-1729). 

JLETTRE  DE  CACHET.  Letters  closed  with  the  King's  seal 
and  which  usually  contained  an  arbitrary  order  of  exile 
or  imprisonment. 

MADAME,  Charlotte  Elizabeth  of  Bavaria,  known  as  the 
Princesse  Palatine,  born  at  Heidelberg.  Wife  of  Mon- 
sieur, due  d'Orleans  and  mother  of  the  Regent. 

MAINE  (Louis  Auguste  de  Bourbon,  due  du),  legitimated 
son  of  Louis  XIV  and  of  Mme.  de  Montespan,  born 
at  Versailles  (1670-1736). —  His  wife,  Louise  de  Bour- 
bon, granddaughter  of  the  Great  Conde,  held  at  her 
chateau  de  Sceaux  a  political  salon  and  involved  the 
due  in  the  Cellamare  conspiracy  (1676-1753). 

MAINTENON  (Franchise  d'Aubigne,  marquise  de),  grand- 
daughter of  Agrippa  d'Aubigne.  Born  at  Niort  in  the 
Calvinist  religion,  she  was  converted  to  Catholicism, 
accepted  out  of  necessity  the  hand  of  the  poet  Scarron 
(1652),  became  a  widow  in  1660,  was  secretly  entrusted 
with  the  education  of  the  children  of  Louis  XIV  and 
of  Mme.  de  Montespan,  succeeded  in  supplanting  the 


342  NOTES 

latter  and  after  the  death  of  Marie-Therese,  was  wedded 
to  Louis  XIV  by  a  secret  marriage  (1684).  She  exer- 
cised over  Louis  XIV  an  influence  not  always  benefi- 
cent. The  King  being  dead  (1715),  she  withdrew  to 
the  Maison  de  Saint-Cyr,  which  she  had  founded  for 
the  education  of  poor  girls  of  noble  birth  (1635-1719). 

MARIE  ANNE  VICTORIA,  Infanta  of  Spain,  born  in 
Madrid  in  1718,  was  betrothed  to  Louis  XV  and  came 
to  Paris  in  1722.  She  was  sent  back  to  Spain  by  Mon- 
sieur le  due  (de  Bourbon),  who  became  prime  minister 
(1723-1726),  on  the  death  of  the  Regent. 

MONSIEUR,  due  d'Orleans,  brother  of  Louis  XIV,  and  fa- 
ther of  the  Regent. 

MONTESPAN  (Frangoise  Athenais  de  Rochechouart,  mar- 
quise de),  a  favourite  of  Louis  XIV,  born  at  the  chateau 
of  Tonnay-Charente  (1641-1707). 

NANTES  (Edict  of),  Edict  rendered  by  Henri  IV  in  1598 
in  favor  of  the  Protestants.  It  authorized  Calvinistic 
worship,  excepting  at  Court  and  in  Paris;  the  Prot- 
estants were  allowed  four  universities  or  academies, 
certain  places  in  the  Parliament,  etc.  But  as  early  as 
the  minority  of  Louis  XIV,  these  privileges  were  sup- 
pressed one  by  one,  and  the  King  himself  revoked  the 
edict  in  1685.  The  revocation  brought  about  the  ex- 
patriation of  a  large  number  of  Protestants,  among  the 
most  active  and  best  workers  of  the  French  nation. 

NOAILLES  (Louis  Antoine  de),  cardinal,  Archbishop  of 
Paris  (1651-1729). 

ORLEANS  (due  d'),  Philippe  II,  the  Regent  (1674-1723). 
ORLEANS   (Gaston  d'),  brother  of  Louis  XIII,  was  named 

lieutenant  general  of  the  Kingdom  on  the  death  of  his 

brother   (1608-1660). 


NOTES  343 

PETER  I,  the  Great,  Czar  of  Russia  (1672  1725). 

PHILIP  V,  grandson  of  Louis  XIV,  first  due  d'Anjou,  born 
•  at  Versailles,  King  of  Spain  from  1700  to  1746;  he 
made  praiseworthy  efforts  to  raise  Spain  from  its  de- 
cadence. 

PORT-ROYAL,  an  abbey  near  Chevreuse  (Seine-et-Oise). 
The  recluses  of  Port-Royal  allied  themselves  with  the 
jansenists,  and  the  abbey,  after  heated  discussions  with 
the  ecclesiastic  authorities,  was  closed  in  1705  by  order 
of  Louis  XIV.  The  abbey  itself  was  destroyed  in 
1710. 

QUINCAMPOIX  (Rue},  a  street  of  Paris,  parallel  to  rue 
Saint  Martin.  It  is  there  that,  during  the  Regency,  the 
financier  Law  established  his  bank. 

RICHELIEU  (Armand  due  de},  Marshal  of  France,  born  in 
Paris,  grand-nephew  of  the  cardinal.  Witty,  but  of 
doubtful  morality,  he  played  a  brilliant  part  at  the 
Court  of  Louis  XIV,  during  the  Regency  and  during 
the  reign  of  Louis  XV;  in  1757,  he  took  Port-Mahon 
1696-1788). 

SARTINES,  the  son  of  Sartines  of  whom  Duclos  speaks 
was  the  grandfather  of  the  celebrated  lieutenant  of 
police  Sartine  who  held  an  important  position  during 
the  reign  of  Louis  XV. 

UNIGENITUS  (see  CONSTITUTION). 

VILLEROI  (Frangois  de),  Marshal  of  France,  born  in  Paris. 
He  was  a  clever  courtier,  but  a  poor  general,  he  was 
defeated  at  Ramillies  (1644-1730). 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


;ELES 


o/'y 


UCLA 


College 
Library 

DC 
132 


